i:<^- 


y4madeus  I,  King  of  Spain. 


THK  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIKONE 

BKINC    AN    ACCnrXT  OT   Till-:    1,1  FK  OI» 

AMADEUS 

DUKB   OK   AObTA,   bOMETIMR    KING   OF   SPAIN 


BY 

H.  REMSEN  WHITEHOUSE 

Formerly   attached    to  United  States   Legation  at   Madrid.     Latt 
Secretary  of  Lcflation  and  Cotisitl  General  to  Central  America  : 
Secretary  of  I.e,:<ation   to  Mexico,  Secretary  of  the  Pan- 
American    Conference  ;   and    recently   Secretary   of 
United  States  Embassy  to  Italy 


NEW    YORK 

BONNELL,   SILVER  &  CO. 
1S97 


Copyright,  1897, 

BY 

BONNELL,  SILVER  &  CO. 
All  Rights  Reserved. 


TO   U\    V.IFE 

iLLROABXT    McBtTRNEY    WBJTEHOUSE 

IN    MEMORY 

or   HAPPY    ROMAN    DATS 

I  DEDICATE  TUI3 

BTULIY. 


'Beau  RrvAGE" 

OCCHY,  JlSE,  1891 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAom 
Birth  of  Amadeus.— His  mother  Maria  Adelaide.— Title  of 
Dulce  of  AoBta.— Visit  of  Prince  Amadeus  to  Valley  vt 
Aoeta. — Piedmont  enters movt-ment  fur  Italian  unity. — Sa- 
lon of  Countess  MafTei  at  Milau.— Fall  of  Louis  Philippe.— 
Atnlication  of  Charles  A Uiert  and  acoession  of  Victor  Em- 
manuel after  Novara.— Maria  Adelaide  and  her  children. — 
DifBculties  encountered  by  Victor  Emmanuel  and  Cavuur.      9 

CHAPTER  II. 

Count  Cavour.— Italy  and  the  Crimea.— Death  of  Maria 
Adelaide.— Her  charities. — Victor  Emmanuel  visits  France 
and  England. — Conjrress  of  Paris. — (>rsini  outrajie. — Plora- 
bii^res  interview.— Incident  at  Tuileries  Januarj'  1S59. — 
Prince  Consort's  opinion.— Victor  Emmanuel  and  Napoleon 
III.— War  with  Austria -X 

CHAPTER  III. 

Campai^  of  1859.— GaribaMi  and  Cavour.— Emilia  and  Tus- 
cany under  sceptre  of  Savoy. — Naples  and  Sicily  annexed. 
— Death  of  Cavour. — Italian  and  Prus.sian  alliance. — War 
of  1806. — Amaileus  in  the  army. — Conduct  at  Custoza. — Is 
wounded  at  Monte  Croce. — Life  at  Turin. — Engagement 
and  marriage  of  Amadeus. — Marriage  of  Prince  Humbert. 
— Birth  of  Duke  delle  Puglie. — Amadeus  goes  to  Egypt. — 
He  assumes  naval  command .39 

CHAPTER  IV. 

Franco-fterman  war.— Spanish  affairs.- Deposition  of  Isa- 
bella and  efforts  to  obtain  a  King. — Hohenzollern  candi- 
date.— His  acceptance  and  renunciation. — Declaration  of 
war  between  Fntni-e  and  Ciermany. — Prince  Amadeus 
again  appealed  to  by  M;in«hal  Prim.— Endeavors  to  per- 
suade Amadeus  to  accept  Spanish  crown.— His  hesitations 
and  final  acceptance.— Deputation  from  Cortes  leaves  for 
Florence. — Arrival  in  Florence. — Reception  by  Victor  Em- 
manuel.—Speech  of  Zorrilla  and  reply  of  Amadeus .'>7 

5 


6  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER  V. 

PAGE 

Amadeus  embarks  at  Spezzia  on  "  Numancia  "  Queen  Isa- 
bella's protest.— Assassination  of  Marshal  Prim. — Arrival 
of  Amadeu.s  at  Carthageua  and  Madrid. — Visit  to  the 
Atocha.— Ceremony  at  the  Cortes.— The  Regent's  farewell 
speech. — Formation  of  Ministry  entrusted  to  Serrano. — 
Arrival  of  Queen  Maria  Victoria. — Election  of  Cortes. — 
Spanish  political  parties  :  their  aims  and  organization. — 
Difficulties  surrounding  the  new  King. — His  convictions 
and  scruples 86 

CHAPTER  VI. 

Opening  of  Parliament. — Speech  from  the  Tlirone.— The 
Serrano  ministry. — Defeat  of  same  and  formation  of 
Zorrilla  cabinet. — Visit  of  Italian  Crown  Prince. — Habits  of 
Amadeus  in  his  daily  life  in  Madrid. — First  attempt  upon 
his  life. — Tactics  of  the  secret  police. — Life  in  the  Palace.— 
Official  and  private  existence  of  the  royal  couple. — Court 
entertainments.— Queen  Maria  Victoria :  her  character, 
charities  and  opinions 106 

CHAPTER  VII. 

Amnesty  granted  previous  to  visit  to  provinces.— Royal  visit 
to  Valencia,  Barcelona,  etc. — Meeting  with  Espartero. — 
Return  to  Madrid. — Cabinet  crisis. — Election  of  President 
of  Cortes.— Zorrilla  presents  his  resignation. — Demonstra- 
tions in  Madrid. — The  Queen  is  molested  by  crowd. — Car- 
lists  seize  opportunity  afforded  by  Zorrilla- — Sagasta  con- 
troversy to  renew  hostilities. — Financial  and  Political  com- 
plications    126 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

Marshal  Serrano  appointed  Commander  in  Chief. — Conven- 
tion of  Amorevieta. — General  Sickles'  despatches  to  his 
Government.— Spanish  political  outlook.— The  Monarchy 
and  its  effect  on  the  treasury. — Amadeus  refuses  to  sanc- 
tion extreme  measures.— Resignation  of  Serrano  cabinet.— 
Dissolution  of  Cortes. — Cuban  insurrection.— Radical  min- 
istry acceijts  office. — Proposed  reforms  and  economies —  137 

CHAPTER  IX. 
Attempt  on  the  lives  of  Amadeus  and  Maria  Victoria. — Cir- 
cumstances of  the  attack. — Amadeus  informs  Victor  Em- 
manuel.—The  Queen's  apprehensions. — Question  of  aboli- 
tion of  slavery  in  CuVja  and  Porto  Rico.— Feeling  for  and 
against.- The  Government's  pledges.— Discussion   begins 


CONTENTS.  7 

in  Cr>rt<»s.— Formation  of  tho  I^eniftie.— Defection  of 
former  adherents.— Ueueral  Sickleti'  reports.— Oastelur  V) 
the  rescue l-V) 

CHAITKR  X. 

DLssensiijns  in  the  cabinet.— Zorrillu's  statements  concerning 
allege<l  foreign  intluences.— Castelar's  view  on  same.— liill 
for  emancipation  hiiii  Ijefore  Cortes. — Tlie  (loverninenfs 
scheme  for  same.— Condition  of  Porto  Kico.— Tlio  Kiu)i"s 
position  on  subject  <>t  emancipation. — Royal  decree  of 
Decenil)er  "j:!— Criticism  on  [Hilitical  situation.— Possibili- 
ties ofTereil  Amadeus  on  his  accession.  — I)^n^;ers  and  pit- 
falls iu  his  path.— Causes  of  the  fall  of  his  dynasty IGO 

CHAPTER  XI. 

Glimpses  of  Amadeus'  cliaracter.—Xew  Year's  Day  1RT3. — 
Deputations  frum  Cortes  and  tlieir  contjnituhitions.— 
Doubtful  sincerity  t>f  same. — Reforms  effected  and  under 
consideration.— Hopelessness  of  the  situation. —Re-open- 
ing of  Cortes. — Critical  moments  for  dynasty. — Birth  of 
Prince  of  the  Asturias 184 

CHAPTER  XII. 

Immediate  cause  of  abdication. — CJeneral  Hidalgo  and  the 
Artillery  Corps.— Resignation  of  officers.— Anmdeus  de- 
clares Ills  resolution  to  Zorrilla. — Conservative  offers. — 
Zorrilla's  resjwnsibilities. — KfTorts  to  delay  annoimcement 
of  abdication.— Meeting  of  the  Cortes.— Zorrilla's  state- 
ments to  the  House.— He  opp<jses  permanent  session.— 
Conflict  between  Cabinet  and  Chamber.— Senor  Castelar 
addresses  the  House.— Zorrilla  leaves  the  Chamber.— 
Martos  agrees  to  permanent  session 109 

CHAPTER  XIII. 
Aspect  of  5Iadrid  during  period  of  uncertainty. — Plans  of 
the  Royal  Family. — Cortes  resumes  session. — Amadeus 
sends  his  message  of  ab<licatlon  to  Cortes. — The  text  of 
same. — Senate  summoned  to  take  part  In  deliberations. — 
The  Government  resigns  its  p<jwers  to  Cortes.— Mes.sage 
of  the  Cortes  to  Anmdeus.— Committee  appointed  to 
escort  King  to  frontier. — S»)verelgnty  of  the  Assembly. — 
Declaration  of  the  Republic 'iiS 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

Patriotic  attitude  of  monarchical  deputies  In  voting  for 
Republic— Seuor  Pi  y  Murgalls  remarks.— Tho  debate  de- 


8  COJ^TENTS. 

PAGE 

clared  open.— Late  Cabinet  requested  to  resume  adminis- 
trative functions  temporarily.— Refusal  of  Senores  Zorrilla 
and  Martos.— Qualification  of  votes  to  be  cast  by  leaders 
of  various  parties. — Radicals  disclaim  initiative  in  estab- 
lishing Republic.— Zorilla's  profession  of  faith. — Castelar 
speaks.— The  vote. — Figueras  chosen  President  of  the 
Republic 241 

CHAPTER  XV. 

Preparations  for  departure.— The  Queen's  health. — Their 
Majesties  leave  the  Palace. — The  Royal  Train. — Neglect  to 
furnish  a  suitable  escort. — Scenes  during  the  journey. — 
Incident  at  Merida. — Arrival  at  Lisbon 261 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

Disapprobation  of  Victor  Emmanuel  of  contemplated  abdi- 
cation.— Reception  of  the  news  in  Italy. — Criticism  of  the 
King's  action. — General  Lanza's  despatch. — Estimates  of 
the  foreign  press. — Resolutions  of  Italian  Chambers. — The 
Prince's  reply  to  same. — His  statement  to  delegation  in 
Turin. — Incidents  at  Lisbon. — Feeling  in  Spain 270 

CHAPTER  XVII. 

Departure  from  Lisbon  and  arrival  in  Italy. — Illness  of  the 
Duchess. — Her  death. — Criticism  of  Maria  Victoria. — Her 
place  in  history. — The  Duke's  life  after  his  wife's  death  in 
Turin  and  abroad. — Death  of  Victor  Emmanuel  and  of 
Pius  IX. — The  occupants  of  the  Vatican  and  Quirinal,  and 
their  influence  on  Italian  politics 282 

CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Accession  of  King  Humbert. — Italy  in  1878.— The  Vatican. 
Amadeus  actively  participates  in  affairs  of  State.— The 
cholera  at  Naples.— Visit  of  the  King  and  Amadeus.— Inci- 
dents during  their  stay  there.— Amadeus  returns  to  Turin. 
— Accident  at  station. — Military  duties. — Triple  alliance. — 
African  colonial  extension.— Erithrea.— The  Duke's  char- 
ities    293 

CHAPTER  XIX. 
The  Princess  Clotilde. — Her  marriage  and  early  years.— Mar- 
riage of  Amadeus  to  his  niece  Princess  Laetitia. — Birth  of 
Count  Salemi.— Beginning  of  fatal  illness.— Visit  to  Ca- 
serta.— Incident  there.— The  Duke  takes  to  his  bed.— 
Alarming  symptoms.— Arrival  of  King  Humbert.— Last 
moments. — Death  of  Amadeus. — Funeral  ceremonies 314 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 

Amadeus  I.,  King  of  Spain Froutisjnece. 

JIaria  Victoria.  Queen  of  Spain 98 

Emmanuel  Philibert,  Present  Dulie  of  Aosta 108 

Amadeus  of  Savoy,  Duke  of  Aosta 203 

Princess  Laetitia  Bonaparte,  Dowager  Duchess 
of  Aosta 314 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TimONE. 


CHAPTKU  I. 

Birth  of  Amadeus.— His  mother.  Maria  Adelaide.— Title  of  Duke 
of  Aosta.— Visit  of  Prince  Aina<leus  to  Valley  of  Aosta.— Pied- 
mont enters  movement  of  Italian  Unity.— Salon  of  Countess 
Maffei,  at  Milan.— Fall  of  Louis  Philippe.  —  Alxlication  of 
Charles  .\lbert  and  accession  of  Victor  Emmanuel  after  Ko- 
vara.  — Maria  Ailelaide  and  her  children.  —Difficulties  en- 
countered by  Victor  Emmanuel  and  Cavour. 

On  the  morning  of  the  thirtieth  of  May, 
1845,  the  Lady  of  Honor  of  the  Ducliess  of 
Savoy,  seeking  Charles  Albert  in  tlie  royal 
palace  of  Turin,  informed  His  Majesty  that 
his  daughter-in-law,  Her  Royal  Highness 
Maria  Adelaide,  had  just  given  birtli  to  a 
prince. 

"  He  is  welcome,"  exclaimed  tlie  King,  re- 
laxinjr  for  a  moment  from  his  habitual  morose 
preoccupation.  "We  will  call  him  Ama- 
deus, and  his  title  shall  bo  Duke  of  Aosta." 

The  daughter  of  the  Arch-Duke  Ranier, 

9 


10  TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Viceroy  of  Lombardy-Venetia,  and  Princess 
Elisabeth,  sister  of  the  King  of  Sardinia, 
Maria  Adehiide  was  consequently  closely 
related  by  ties  of  blood  to  the  House  of 
Savoy ;  being,  in  fact,  her  husband's  first 
cousin.  Politically  an  Austrian  but  born  in 
Milan,  she  was  at  heart  an  Italian  and  fitted 
in  every  respect,  as  the  wife  of  the  Heir  to  the 
Throne,  to  win  the  sympathy  and  affections 
of  her  future  subjects.  Eminently  pious,  yet 
without  bigotry  ;  combining  generosity  with 
exquisite  tact,  the  Duchess  soon  became 
greatly  beloved  in  Turin  where  the  populace 
bestowed  upon  her  the  title  of  Providence  of 
the  Poor,  and  where  from  the  date  of  her 
marriage  (April  13.  1842)  to  that  of  her 
death  (January  20,  1855),  her  gentle  and 
gracious  influence  greatly  added  to  the  popu- 
larity and  affection  of  which  the  princes  of 
the  House  of  Savoy  received  such  ample  dem- 
onstration. 

For  purely  political  reasons  there  is  no 
doubt  that  Charles  Albert  would  have  pre- 
ferred a  French  princess  for  his  daughter-in- 
law,  the  project  was,  however,  vigorously  com- 
bated by  the  Prime  Minister,  Count  Solaro 
della  Margarita,  an  old-fashioned  and  bigoted 
legitimist,  who,  as  he  openly  declared,  Avould 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIROyE.  11 

have  burnt  ofif  his  right  haiul  sooner  than  put 
bis  signature  to  a  marriage  contract  by  which 
a  descendant  of  tlie  regicidid  Philippe  Kgalit<i 
shouUl  enter  the  House  of  Savoy. 

Tlie  '*  (iazzetta  Pieniontese  "  of  May  31, 
1845,  contains  tlie  following — the  lirst  intima- 
tion to  the  public  of  the  entrance  into  the 
world  of  one  who  was  to  play  no  insignilicant 
part  on  its  political  stage :  ••*  Yesterday  at 
two  in  the  afternoon,  the  Prince  just  born,  on 
whom  it  has  pleased  II.  M.  the  King  to  con- 
fer tlie  title  of  Duke  of  Aosta,  was  privately 
baptized  by  H.  E.  the  Archbishop  in  a  chapel 
expressly  prepared  in  the  royal  apart- 
ments." 

The  Prince  was  held  at  the  font  by  his 
uncle,  the  Duke  of  Genoa.  Salutes  were  fired, 
and  general  public  rejoicings  took  place  not 
only  in  Piedmont  but  also  in  the  other  states 
of  Italy,  already  turning  their  eyes  towards 
the  little  Kingdom  at  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  and 
recognizing  in  its  wise  and  liberal  Princes  the 
hope  of  a  salvation  to  come,  and  the  promise  of 
freedom  from  the  chains  of  foreiirn  bondafje. 

The  title  of  Duke  of  Aosta,  conferred  on 
Amadeus  by  his  royal  grandfather,  is  one  of 
the  oldest  in  the  House  of  Savoy.  In  1024 
*•  Humbert  of  the  White  Hands  "  ficrure.s  in 


12  THE  SACBIFICE  OF  A  THE  ONE. 

history  with  the  title  of  Count  of  Aosta.  The 
valley  has  remained  ever  since  the  faithful 
and  loyal  domain  of  the  family,  through  vicis- 
situdes and  good  fortune  alike,  and  a  century 
before  Savoy  became  a  Duchy  its  Princes 
bore  the  title  of  Dukes  of  Aosta.  The  castles 
and  palaces  of  the  once  powerful  de  Challant 
and  Roncas  families  still  remain  to  attest  the 
importance  of  some  of  the  great  vassal  houses 
of  the  Val  d' Aosta. 

On  the  death  of  Amadeus  (January  18, 
1890),  the  title  descended,  by  special  decree 
of  King  Humbert,  to  the  Prince's  eldest  son, 
known  up  to  that  time  as  Emmanuel  Phili- 
bert,  Duke  delle  Puglie.  This  young  Prince 
recently  married  (1895)  Princess  Helen  of 
Orleans,  a  lineal  descendant  of  that  "  regi- 
cidal"  Philippe  Egalite  so  distasteful  to 
Charles  Albert's  Prime  Minister,  Count  So- 
laro  della  Margarita. 

In  August,  1864,  Prince  Amadeus,  then 
barely  nineteen  years  of  age,  accompanied  by 
Count  Guiseppe  Pasolini,  paid  a  visit  to  Aosta 
and  the  neighboring  towns  and  villages.  The 
journey,  originally  planned  on  account  of  cer- 
tain local  disturbances  which  had  taken  place 
by  reason  of  the  introduction  of  the  Italian 
language,  proved  a  continual  ovation  for  the 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   Til  RONE.  13 

Prince  bearing  the  title  of  the  secluded  prov- 
ince. Accustomed  to  the  French  tongue,  as 
well  in  private  use  as  in  public  acts  and 
correspondence,  the  inhabitants  of  the  valley 
were  profoundly  grieved  and  humiliated 
when  an  attempt  was  made  by  some  over-zeal- 
ous orticial  to  force  Italian  upon  them  to  the 
total  exclusion  of  their  native  idiom.  Count 
Pasolini  made  hinist-lf  the  champion  of  the 
sturdy  mountaineers,  and  was  instrumental 
in  bringing  about  the  visit  of  the  Prince, 
which  effectually  appeased  all  hostile  feeling 
and  allayed  the  fermentation  caused  by  the 
obnoxious  order. 

On  the  evening  of  the  Prince's  arrival  the 
municipal  body,  with  all  the  authorities  resid- 
ing in  Aosta,  solemnly  repaired  to  the  tri- 
umphal arch  erected  by  the  Romans  to  the 
Emperor  Augustus,  there  to  receive  their 
Duke,  and  to  welcome  him  with  the  following 
address : 

"Youu  liuvAL  Highness: 

"  It  is  a  great  day  for  the  inhabitants  of  tliis 
town,  that  on  which  they  receive  amongst 
them  the  son  of  their  magnanimous  King,  the 
Prince  who  beai-s  the  name  of  their  country. 
On  entering  this   ancient   city  Your    Royal 


14  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Highness  will  find  at  every  step  the  same 
hearts  as  those  which,  eight  hundred  years 
ago,  welcomed  the  chief  of  your  illustrious 
dynasty,  Humbert  of  the  White  Hands.  Our 
modest  town  can  certainly  not  boast  of  the 
richness  of  decoration  of  the  great  cities  of 
the  Peninsula,  but  Your  Royal  Highness  will 
meet  here  those  bronzed  mountaineers  who  on 
a  battle-field  know  not  what  retreat  means 
and  who  are  always  proud  to  be  enrolled 
under  the  banner  of  the  White  Cross  of  Savoy. 
"  May  Your  Royal  Highness  deign  to  receive 
the  profound  homage  presented  by  the  munici- 
pality of  Aosta,  in  its  own  name  and  in  the 
name  of  this  joyful  population  which  has 
assembled  in  crowds  to  contemplate  the 
features  of  a  Prince  whom  this  ancient  Duchy 
will  count  upon  as  its  most  illustrious 
protector." 

This  visit  of  the  Prince — described  in  the 
enthusiastic  local  press  as  restoring  to  the 
ancient  capital  of  the  Alps  the  days  of  its 
past  splendor — fully  accomplished  the  object 
for  which  it  Avas  undertaken,  and  caused  a 
revival  of  fervor  and  loyalty  in  the  hearts  of 
the  simple,  honest-minded  dwellers  of  these 
peaceful  regions. 


THE  SACTilFICF  OF  A   TIIllOXE.  15 

Before  Aniudcus  \vm\  attained  his  third 
year  Piedmont  was  fully  huinched  in  the  Ital- 
ian movement,  and  had  in  fact  begun  to  shape 
its  destinies.  The  invasion  of  the  Legations 
and  the  excited  state  ofjuiblic  feeling  in  Lom- 
bardy  and  Venetia,  together  with  the  increase 
of  Austrian  forces  in  those  provinces,  liad  for 
some  time  made  apparent  the  necessity'  of 
being  prepared,  and  had  caused  Cliarles  Albert 
to  make  every  sacritice  in  order  that  his  army 
nii<dit  be  in  readiness  for  events  which  could 
not,  in  the  nature  of  things,  be  long  dela3-ed. 
The  death  of  Pope  Gregory  XVI.,  and  the 
amnesty  granted  to  political  offenders  by  his 
successor,  Pius  IX.,  together  with  other  liberal 
acts  of  the  new  Pontiff,  awoke  new  hopes. 
The  patriotic  tide  swelled  and  rolled  forward 
in  all  classes  of  society  and  in  all  parts  of  the 
Peninsula.  That  hot-bed  of  political  intrigue 
as  it  had  then  become,  the  salon  of  the 
Countess  MafTei,  in  Milan,  teemed  with  gen- 
erous impulse  and  the  fervor  of  martyrdom. 
This  famous  salon,  originally  the  meeting- 
place  of  literary  and  artistic  Italy — not  to  say 
Europe — which  began  to  assemble  round  the 
gifted  and  charming  countess  as  early  as  1834, 
continued  to  exert  its  influence  down  to  the 
death  of  the  hostess  in  18b0.      Durinrf  the 


16  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

intensely  fervent  political  period  extending 
from  1849  to  1859,  when  the  struggle  for 
national  independence  in  Italy  was  at  its 
fiercest,  the  Countess  Clara  threw  herself 
heart  and  soul  into  the  movement,  and  the 
policy  of  Count  Cavour  counted  amongst  the 
frequenters  of  her  house  some  of  its  staunch- 
est  and  best  known  supporters.  Balzac, 
Verdi,  Liszt,  Daniel  Stern,  Aleardi,  Manzoni, 
and  a  host  of  others,  celebrated  artistic  and 
poetical  lights,  now  yielded  if  not  the  place 
of  honor  at  least  that  of  action  to  men  such 
as  E.  Visconti-Venosta  (the  Italian  Arbi- 
trator on  the  recent  Behring  Sea  Commission), 
Emilio  Dandolo,  Massimo  d'Azeglio,  Emilio 
Broglio,  and  the  followers  of  Count  Cavour 
and  Garibaldi.  To  the  close  observer  of  the 
details  of  the  long  struggle  for  Italian  inde- 
pendence and  unity  the  records  of  the  subtle 
yet  persistent  influence  of  the  workers  revolv- 
ing round  this  frail  and  quiet  little  lady  are 
of  the  greatest  interest. 

The  fall  of  Louis-Philippe  (February  28, 
1848)  and  the  declaration  of  the  Republic  in 
France  added  fuel  to  the  burning  political 
passions  in  Italy.  Charles  Albert,  fully  un- 
derstanding that  through  the  aid  of  the  Lib- 
erals alone  could  he  satisfy  his  noble  ambi- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.  17 

tion  of  becoming  the  emancipator  of  Italv, 
granted  his  subjects  the  constitution  so  eagerly 
sought,  and  swore  to  maintain  it  "  with  the 
affection  of  a  father  and  the  faitli  of  a  King." 

While  Amadeus,  with  liis  brother  Humbert 
and  their  elder  sister,  the  Princess  Clotilde, 
romped  about  the  royal  gardens  at  Turin,  or 
the  grounds  of  the  castle  of  Moncalieri,  in  all 
the  glorious  carelessness  of  healthy  childhood, 
portentous  clouds  were  gathering  thick  round 
the  throne  of  their  grandfather.  Milan  and 
Venice  had  risen  to  the  cry  of  '•  fuori  lo 
straniero  "  (away  with  the  foreigner),  and 
the  Piedmontese  were  loudly  demanding  arms 
to  aid  their  brothers  to  oust  the  Austrian 
tyrants. 

On  thenight  of  March  25,  1848,  an  enor- 
mous crowd  tilled  the  great  square  before  the 
castle  of  Turin.  Silent  and  calm  it  awaited 
the  result  of  the  deliberations  of  the  council 
of  the  King  and  foremost  statesmen  of  the 
land.  Suddenly  the  broad  windows  leading  to 
the  balcony  of  the  Royal  Armory  are  thrown 
open  and  a  flood  of  light  inundates  the  square. 
The  populace  awaits  breathlessly  the  appear- 
ance of  the  King,  who  strides  out,  the  Dukes 
of  Savoy  and  Genoa  at  his  side,  waving  a 
tricolor  flag.      The  declaration  of  war — for 

2 


18  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

such  it  is — is  greeted  with  au  immense 
thunder  of  applause.  From  this  momsnt  the 
heart  of  Italy  palpitated  in  Turin.  From  that 
day  the  unity,  independence  and  liberty  of 
Italians  "was  decreed — its  fulfilment  still,  alas  ! 
a  question  of  years  of  noble  sacrifice  and 
lieroic  struggle,  but  henceforth  the  sacred  aim 
and  unswerving  object  of  whole  peoples  eager 
to  become  a  Nation. 

A  few  days  later  Charles  Albert  had  crossed 
the  Ticino  with  his  armj^  and  the  first  brill- 
iant advantages  of  Pastrengo  and  Goito  had 
gladdened  the  hearts  of  the  patriots,  so  soon 
to  be  cast  down  in  spite  of  prodigies  of  valor 
and  individual  acts  of  heroism,  by  the  re- 
verses of  Custoza  and  Mortara,  and  the  defeat 
of  No  vara.  To  the  advantageous  proposals 
of  peace  made  by  the  Austrians  througli  the 
English  Government,  offering  to  recognize 
the  independence  of  Lombardy,  including 
Peschiera,  and  granting  certain  administrative 
reforms  to  Venice,  Charles  Albert  magnani- 
mously replied  that  Italians  must  all  be  slaves 
or  all  be  free. 

After  the  fateful  battle  of  Novara  (March 
22,  1849),  in  which  he  recognized  the  loss  of 
the  Italian  cause,  Charles  Albert  assembled 
his   staff   around  him.     In  a  few  touching 


THE  SACIilFICK  OF  A   THUUM:.  1'> 

words  recalling  his  fidelity  to  the  constitution 
and  his  endeavors  to  free  his  fellow-country- 
men from  the  foreign  yoke,  the  King  an- 
nounced liis  resolution  to  alxlicate  in  favor 
of  his  son  Victor  Emmanuel,  Duke  of  Savoy, 
in  the  hope  that  the  new  sovereign  might  be 
able  to  secure  better  terms,  and  procure  for  liis 
country  an  honorable  peace. 

Immediately  afterwards  tlie  ex-King  re- 
tired to  Oporto,  in  Portugal,  where  four 
months  after  his  abdication  he  died  of  a  broken 
heart  (July  28,  184!t).  Twenty-four  yearn 
later  his  grandson  Amadeus,  true  to  liis  oath 
as  constitutional  King  of  Spain,  souglit  the 
hospitable  soil  of  Portugal — like  liis  ancestor 
a  voluntary  exile. 

Victor  Emmanuel  II.,  born  July  14,  1820, 
was  consequently  twenty-nine  years  of  age 
when  the  reins  of  govenmient  were  so  unex- 
pectedly and  tragically  placed  in  his  hands  by 
the  abdication  of  his  father.  Notwithstanding 
the  crushing  responsibilities  thrust  upon  him,, 
the  future  Father  of  his  Country  manfully  ac- 
cepted the  wt'U-nigh  hopeless  task.  It  was 
urgently  necessary  to  conclude  an  immediate 
armistice  and  to  lay  the  foundations  for  an 
eventual  peace.  Marshal  Radetzky,  how- 
ever, refused  to  receive  the  envoys  sent  by 


20  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  RONE. 

Victor  Emmanuel,  and  insisted  on  treating 
with  the  King  in  person.  Strong  in  his  re- 
solve to  accomplish  any  act  of  abnegation 
necessary  for  the  welfare  of  his  country,  the 
King  bowed  beneath  this  humiliation.  The 
negotiations  for  peace  were  long  and  diffi- 
cult. The  young  King,  however,  gave  proof 
of  the  greatest  strength  of  character,  and  of 
that  tireless  energy  which  permeated  his  whole 
nature.  Positively  refusing  to  abrogate  the 
constitution  granted  by  his  father,  which  the 
Austrians  had  looked  upon  with  great  dis- 
pleasure as  a  dangerous  concession  to  liberal- 
ism, he  proudly  proclaimed  that  he  preferred 
the  loss  of  a  thousand  crowns,  and  exile,  to 
any  retraction  of  the  oath  by  which  his  father 
swore  to  guard  and  uphold  the  liberties 
granted  to  his  people.  The  firmness  of  the 
King  and  the  resolute  diplomacy  of  the  new 
Prime  Minister,  Massimo  d'Azegiio,  finally 
succeeded  in  obtaining  for  Piedmont  (August 
6,  1849)  conditions  of  peace  considerably 
less  onerous  than  might  have  been  feared. 

The  situation  of  his  country  was  neverthe- 
less most  distressing.  The  finances  ex- 
hausted ;  public  credit  ruined ;  the  military 
organization  shattered,  and  patriotic  enthu- 
siasm sadly  weakened.     Besides  financial  em- 


HIE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TIlUOyE.  21 

barrassments,  incliulin<,'  a  Avar  indemnity  of 
seventy-tive  millions  of  francs  imposed  by  the 
victorious  Austrians,  the  government  of  the 
King  had  to  contend  with  the  animosity  of  tlie 
extremist  parties  in  Parliament,  and  the  con- 
tinuous venom  and  hostility  of  an  almost  un- 
bridled foreign  and  domestic  Press. 

Prince  Humbert  and  tlie  Duke  of  Aosta 
were  respectively  in  their  sixth  and  fifth  years 
when  Novara  cut  short  the  lirst  brilliant  but 
futile  struggle  for  Italian  independence.  The 
death  of  their  grandfather  Charles  Albert  in 
his  voluntary  exile  at  Oporto,  whither  he  had 
retired  on  his  abdication,  had  cast  a  deep  gloom 
over  the  Court  and  country,  already  thrown 
into  mourning  by  the  recent  political  disasters. 
Maria-Theresa,  widow  of  the  late  King,  con- 
tinued to  reside  at  the  Piedmontese  Court, 
where  every  delicate  attention  and  loving  care 
were  lavished  on  her  liy  her  daughter-in-law, 
Maria  Adelaide,  and  the  members  of  lier 
family.  The  rigid  etiquette  of  the  late  Court, 
almost  Spanish  in  its  methodical  inflexibility, 
was  gradually  relaxed  by  Maria  Adelaide, 
and  allowed  to  conform  more  with  the  new 
liberal  ideas,  assisted  by  the  Queen's  own  broad 
views  of  sentiment  and  affection.  But  the 
dignity  of  the  new  sovereign  did  not  lose  by 


22  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  contrast.  Cheerfully  sacrificing  all  pre- 
tension to  the  role  of  a  political  woman,  she 
chose  in  preference  that  of  a  tender  mother 
and  the  gracious  protector  of  those  of  her 
subjects  most  sorely  in  need  of  her  aid  and 
sympathy.  The  numerous  stories  of  her  un- 
failing charity  and  practical  assistance  in  sick- 
ness and  sorrow  among  the  most  humble,  give 
us  a  clear  insight  into  the  simplicity  and  dig- 
nity of  the  noble  woman  by  whose  influence 
the  characters  of  her  children  were  being 
formed. 

At  the  time  of  the  accession  of  Victor  Em- 
manuel the  terms  of  intercourse  between  par- 
ents and  their  children  were  very  different  in 
Italy  from  what  they  have  since  become,  and 
it  required  no  little  moral  courage,  even  in  a 
Queen,  to  break  through  deeprooted  traditions, 
and  to  undertake  the  radical  changes  in  her 
own  children's  education  and  bearing  which 
she  considered  as  necessary  for  the  growth  and 
maintenance  of  strong  family  ties  and  affection. 

Amongst  the  members  of  the  Piedmontese 
aristocracy  and  the  upper  middle  classes  the 
system  had  been  almost  one  of  servitude. 
Cliildren  were  taught  to  consider  themselves 
not  as  their  parents'  equals  but  as  their  in- 
feriors and  subjects.     The  same  marks  of  hu- 


TUB  SACIIIFICE  OF  A  TIIJiOyE.  li.i 

mility  and  subjection  were  required  of  tliem 
as  from  actual  servants,  or  as  those  imposed 
by  monastic  rules  on  priests  towards  their 
superiors.  The  children  addressed  their  par- 
ents in  the  third  pereon,  and  were  exj)ectcd  to 
kiss  their  hands  on  the  rare  occasions  upon 
which  they  were  admitted  into  their  presence. 
For  the  rest  the  parents  abandoned  their  off- 
spring to  tlie  care  of  servants,  or  to  their  tutoi-s, 
who  were  generull}-  priests. 

Up  to  the  time  of  her  death  in  1855,  Maria 
Adelaide  carefully  watched  over  and  directed 
tlie  education  of  her  children,  faithfully  aided 
by  the  Marchioness  Pallavicini  di  Priola, 
iroverness  of  the  roval  ])rinces.  Victor  Em- 
manuel,  however,  reserved  for  Iiimself  from 
their  tenderest  yeare  the  supervision  and 
strict  enforcement  of  their  physical  training, 
and  it  is  due  in  no  mean  measure  to  his  ex- 
ample and  teaching  that  the  princes  speedily 
became  finished  horeemen  and  keen  sports- 
men. With  Victor  Emmanuel  the  chase  was, 
to  the  end  of  his  life,  an  absorbing  passion, 
and  to  this  day  his  son  Humbert  yields 
nothing  to  him  in  his  enthusiasm.  At  Aosta 
there  is  a  very  characteristic  statue  repre- 
senting Victor  Emmanuel  in  hunting  garb. 
The  late  King  stands  on  a  pedestal  of  rough 


24  THE  SACBIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

rocks,  his  rifle  just  fallen  from  the  shoulder, 
a  bouquetin  expiring  at  his  feet.  The  bou- 
quetin,  extinct  in  other  parts  of  Europe,  is 
jealously  preserved  in  the  royal  domain 
amongst  the  glaciers  and  peaks  of  the  Gran 
Paradiso  and  Grivola  in  the  Graian  Alps. 
Here  invariably,  year  after  year,  father  and 
son  have  spent  a  few  weeks  during  the  sum- 
mer in  the  mountain  camps,  enjoying  this 
splendid  but  laborious  sport. 

While  thus  occupied  with  the  pleasures  of 
home  or  chase  the  young  King  did  not  allow 
himself  to  be  careless  of  the  affairs  of  state, 
which  indeed  demanded  his  constant  care  and 
industry.  Count  Camillo  di  Cavour  had  suc- 
ceeded Massimo  D' Azeglio  as  Prime  Minister, 
and  had  set  himself  to  the  overwhelming 
task  of  adjusting  the  finances  and  re-ordering 
the  administration  of  the  Kingdom.  And 
the  demands  were  truly  appalling,  while 
the  means  at  his  disposal  were  of  the  most 
meagre  description.  The  army  must  be  in- 
creased ;  railways  must  be  constructed,  and 
prisons  and  hospitals  be  adapted  to  the  ex- 
igencies of  the  times,  while  the  revenues  of 
tlie  state  were  still  further  diminislied  by  re- 
missions in  taxes  and  transportation  of  cereals, 
made   imperious  by  famine  and  consequent 


THE  SACIilFICE  OF  A   TDRONE.          25 

suffering  and  discontent.  Yet  in  spite  of 
harassing  cares  the  young  King  and  liis  min- 
ister were  to  prove  themselves  equal  to  the 
confidence  placed  in  them  b}'  those  who  had 
the  higher  destinies  of  Italy  at  heart. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Count  Cavour.— Italy  and  the  Crimea.— Death  of  Maria  Ade- 
laide.—Her  charities. — Victor  Emmanuel  visits  France  and 
England.— Congress  of  Paris.— Orsini  outrage.— Plombidres 
interview.- Incident  at  Tuileries  January,  1859.— Prince  Con- 
sort's opinion.— Victor  Emmanuel  and  Napoleon  III.— War 
with  Austria. 

Count  Cavour  offers  one  of  the  greatest 
examples  in  history  of  the  broad-minded 
statesman  and  crafty  diplomatist,  combined 
with  the  wise  and  far-seeing  administrator 
and  able  financier.  Patiently  pursuing  one 
great  aim  he  neglected  none  of  the  small  op- 
portunities, or  apparently  insignificant  details, 
necessary  for  its  accomplishment.  This  aim 
was  primarily  the  annexation  to  the  crown  of 
Sardinia  of  the  provinces  and  duchies  of 
northern  Italy,  while  maturing  that  greater 
scheme  for  the  political  unity  of  the  Penin- 
sula. This  purpose,  tirelessly  pursued,  was 
the  object  of  his  constant  pre-occupation 
and  incessant  endeavor.  The  axis  around 
which   tlie  whole   scheme  revolved  was,  in 


THE  SACRIFIVK  OF  A   TIlROSi:.  '11 

Count  Cavour's  opinion,  France ;  and  Franco 
tlien  meant  Napoleon  the  Third.  It  was 
therefore  necessary  first  to  win  the  sym- 
pathy of  that  sovereign  and  then  di-aw  him 
into  active  participation  in  Italian  affairs; 
without  sacrilicing,  however,  any  of  the  lil)t'r- 
ties  guaranteed  by  the  constitution,  or  affeit- 
ing  the  popularity  of  tlie  King  in  the  other 
stiites  of  the  Peninsula.  The  Emperor's 
theories  concerning  the  rights  and  principles 
of  nationality  were  well  known.  The  treaty 
of  Vienna,  concluded  after  the  fall  of  Na- 
poleon I.,  his  uncle,  and  which  had  allotted 
Lombardy  and  Venetia  to  Austria,  and  hum- 
bled France,  was  still  in  force.  By  an  alliance 
with  the  King  of  Piedmont  the  double  o[)por- 
tunity  was  offered  of  paying  off  an  old  score, 
and  of  righting  a  wrong  which  was  none  the 
less  burning  because  long  standing. 

Count  Cavour  was  not  slow  to  recognize 
the  value  of  such  arguments.  From  senti- 
mental argument  to  action  was  a  long  step, 
yet  at  Turin  it  was  foreseen.  In  the  Crimean 
war,  apparently  a  quarrel  having  not  the 
slightest  material  interest  for  the  little  King- 
dom at  the  foot  of  the  Alps,  Cavour  saw  his 
opportunity.  Were  Piedmont  to  bear  her 
share  of  the  heat  and  burden  of  battle  as  the 


28         THE  SACBIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

ally  of  France  and  England,  a  place  could 
hardly  be  denied  her  in  the  concert  of  Euro- 
pean Powers :  and  this  place  she  coveted 
above  all  else.  Futhermore,  the  friendship 
with  France  could  be  made  to  lead  eventually 
to  a  cooling  off  of  the  amicable  relations  be- 
tween France  and  Austria,  and  even  to  a  pos- 
sible rupture  between  those  two  countries,  of 
which  Italy  would  not  only  be  the  cause,  but 
also  by  which  she  would  prove  the  gainer. 

Through  the  Piedmontese  Ambassador  in 
Paris,  Marquis  Villamarina,  the  line  end  of 
the  wedge  was  inserted,  with  the  result  that 
early  in  December,  1854,  the  government  of 
Sardinia  was  officially  invited  by  France  and 
England  to  become  a  party  to  the  alliance 
against  Russia.  The  advantages  to  accrue  to 
Sardinia  were  substantial.  Not  the  least  was 
a  loan  made  by  England  of  two  millions  ster- 
ling, and  the  promise  that  in  the  negotiations 
for  peace  the  sacrifices  sustained  and  services 
rendered  by  Piedmont  should  be  taken  into 
account.  But  the  clause  which  best  suited 
Count  Cavour's  policy  was  the  stipulation 
that  Sardinia  having  entered  the  European 
concert  should  have  a  voice  in  the  re-estab- 
lishment of  peace  and  concerning  the  politi- 
cal equilibrium  of  Europe.     Nor  did  Victor 


THE  SACniFICE  OF  A   TlIllOSE.  -JU 

Emmanuel,  once  engaged  ui>on  the  enter- 
prise, sliirk  the  fullilinent  of  any  of  the  obli- 
gations laid  upon  him  by  his  allies.  The 
official  accounts  of  the  battle  of  Cernaia  teem 
with  praise  and  admiration  of  the  conduct  of 
the  Italian  troops,  while  the  fame  of  General 
Lamarmoi-a  will  ever  be  associated  with  the 
glories  of  the  campaign. 

The  diameter  of  a  prince  whose  surround- 
ings are  i»ermeated  with  the  details  of  politi- 
cal and  military  endeavoi"s  must  necessarily 
at  an  early  age  receive  the  imprint  of  the 
events  of  which  he  is  so  close  and  so  inter- 
ested a  spectator.  As  the  son  of  an  artisan, 
or  manufacturer,  will  more  readily  turn  to 
matters  pertaining  to  his  father's  trade,  so 
also  will  the  mind  of  a  King's  son  earlier 
awaken  to  a  keen  appreciation  of  the  science 
of  government,  the  wheels  and  machinery  of 
which  he  sees  daily  revolving  round  him. 
We  have  seen  how  Maria  Adelaide  endeav- 
ored to  cultivate  in  her  children  the  soften- 
ing influences  of  ])ure  family  affections  and 
home  interests,  and  tliese  principles  so  lov- 
ingly inculcated  remained  with  Amadeus  all 
his  life  long.  Yet  the  stirring  events  of  the 
first  years  of  their  childhood  had  not  been 
without  a  decided  influence  on  the  dispositions 


so  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THEONE. 

of  the  two  young  princes.  They  were  by  race 
soldiers  ;  and  iijDon  the  death  of  their  mother 
their  military  training  was  begun  in  earnest. 

The  year  1 855  was  to  prove  a  particularly 
sad  one  for  the  royal  family. 

On  January  12,  the  widow  of  Charles 
Albert,  Maria  Theresa,  passed  away  after  a 
lingering  illness.  Eight  days  later  the  King 
and  his  whole  country  were  plunged  into 
deepest  grief  and  consternation  by  the  death, 
in  childbed,  of  Queen  Maria  Adelaide.  It  can 
easily  be  imagined  how  sincerely  the  sorrow 
of  the  royal  family  was  shared  by  the  count- 
less poor,  inhabiting  the  attics  and  hovels  of 
Turin,  for  whom  the  charitable  Queen  had  so 
long  and  so  generously  provided — at  what 
personal  sacrifice  only  those  of  her  immediate 
circle  were  aware. 

An  allowance  of  one  hundred  thousand 
francs,  paid  quarterly,  for  dress  and  personal 
expenses,  had  been  made  to  the  Queen  at  the 
time  of  her  marriage.  We  are  told  that 
by  far  the  greater  part  of  this  was  given 
away  in  private  charities,  and  that  the  Queen 
merely  expended  on  her  wardrobe  the  amount 
strictly  necessary  for  the  maintenance  of  the 
dignity  of  her  position. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TIIROyE.  31 

Within  three  weeks  of  tlie  death  of  liis 
wife,  Victor  Emmanuel  was  still  further  af- 
flicted by  the  loss  of  his  brother  Ferdinand, 
Duke  of  Genoa,  father  of  Margherita,  pres- 
ent Queen  of  Italy,  and  of  Tlionias,  the 
actual  Duke. 

The  relentless  demands  of  public  affaira 
did  not  long  allow  Victor  Ennnanuel  to 
brood  over  his  crushing  sorrows.  And  per- 
haps the  ceaseless  political  activity  imposed 
upon  him  was  the  truest  relief.  Before  the 
close  of  the  year  1855  we  iind  the  King,  ac- 
companied by  his  tireless  Minister,  in  Paris 
as  the  honored  guests  of  Napoleon  III. 

Both  from  his  conversations  with  the  Em- 
peror and  leading  French  statesmen,  Count 
Cavour  was  satisfied  that,  should  the  occasion 
arise,  his  country  might  expect  substantial 
aid  from  their  powerful  ally. 

After  a  short  visit  to  London  where  the 
distinguished  Italian  visitors  met  witli  an 
equally  cordial  reeei)tion  from  Queen  Vic- 
toria and  the  English  public,  the  King  re- 
turned to  Turin. 

The  Congress  of  Paris,  which  assembled 
shortly  after  this  visit,  was  of  inestimable 
importance  to  Piedmont  in  so  much  as  it 
afforded  Cavour  the  opportunity  of  setting 


32  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

forth,  in  an  official  reunion  of  the  great 
European  Powers,  the  wrongs  of  his  country- 
men and  the  unsatisfactory  condition  of 
affairs  in  the  Peninsula.  Of  course  the  ty- 
rannical governments  of  the  Italian  States 
under  Austrian  protection  protested  against 
the  unsolicited  and  unauthorized  action  of 
the  Piedmontese  statesman.  Austria  was 
especially  incensed  and  loud  in  her  denun- 
ciations of  any  consideration  of  the  subject 
by  the  Congress.  But  Cavour  had  had  his 
say,  and  a  great  majority  in  all  parts  of  Italy 
lauded  this  bold  policy  to  the  skies. 

Meanwhile  the  relations  between  Austria 
and  Piedmont  continued  to  grow  more  and 
more  strained  in  direct  ratio  with  the  in- 
creasing cordiality  of  the  French  and  Italian 
rulers. 

The  popularity  of  Victor  Emmanuel  gained 
ground  year  by  year  as  the  absolute  honesty 
and  straightforwardness  of  his  policy  became 
better  known.  Daniel  Manin,  the  President 
of  the  Venetian  Republic  of  1848-49,  and 
Garibaldi,  were  among  the  first  to  rally  round 
the  standard  of  the  King,  and  to  proclaim 
their  faith  in  the  principle  of  Italian  unity 
under  the  constitutional  sceptre  of  the  House 
of  Savoy.     Others  who  had  been  the  uphold- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A    TIlIiOyE.  33 

era  of  the  theories  of  Miizziui  followed, 
and  the  allegiance  of  the  vast  association 
which  w;\s  to  represent  the  great  Italian 
national  i)arty  was  assured  to  Victor  Em- 
manuel. 

Tiie  Orsini  outrage  (January  14,  1858) 
caused  for  a  time  great  anxiety  to  the  Pied- 
montese  cabinet,  as  it  was  feared  the  well- 
founded  aspirations,  the  result  of  years  of 
patient  diplomacy,  would  be  jeopardized,  or 
even  irretrievably  destroyed.  Felix  Oi-sini 
was  a  patriot  whose  whole  life  had  been  given 
up  to  the  Italian  cause,  and  who  believed 
that  Napoleon  was  an  obstacle  to  the  realiza- 
tion of  his  scheme.  The  crime  caused  deep 
consternation  throughout  Europe,  and  espe- 
cially in  France.  The  political  world  saw  in 
the  attempt  the  handiwork  of  those  secret 
societies  whose  ramilications  extended  over 
all  Italy,  and  whose  aims  and  objects  were 
currently  believed  to  embrace  political  assas- 
sination. Count  Cavour  realized  the  peril 
of  the  situation  and  the  necessity  of  calming 
the  apprehensions  of  Europe.  It  was  imper- 
atively incumbent  on  the  government  to  free 
the  state  from  the  insinuations  of  her  enemies, 
and  to  clear  the  holy  Italian  cause  from  the 
discredit  involved  by  the  political  machina- 
3 


34  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

tions  of  regicidal  fanatics.  Combining  the 
necessities  and  the  opjjortunities  of  the  crisis 
in  the  most  masterly  manner,  the  Prime 
Minister  addressed  a  circular  to  all  the  King's 
representatives  abroad,  informing  them  of  the 
government's  interpretation  of  the  unfortunate 
situation  created  by  Orsini's  crime.  After 
recording  the  profound  impression  produced 
in  Europe  by  the  outrage,  he  admits  that  un- 
luckily the  authors  of  the  plot  were  Italians. 
The  evident  aim,  he  adds,  confirmed  by  the 
confession  of  the  guilty  principal,  was  to  seek 
to  provoke  by  means  of  the  death  of  the  Em- 
peror a  revolution  in  France,  and  an  insurrec- 
tion in  Italy.  In  view  of  these  attempts,  so 
frequently  renewed,  and  which  all  have  so 
similar  an  object — namely,  a  change  in  the 
actual  condition  of  affairs  in  Italy — one  is 
forced  to  ask  if  in  reality  there  does  not  exist 
in  some  states  of  the  Peninsula  a  deep  reason 
for  discontent  which  it  would  be  to  the  ad- 
vantage of  all  Europe  to  do  away  with  !  The 
reason  undoubtedly  does  exist.  It  is  the 
result  of  foreign  occupation,  principally  :  it 
arises  from  the  corrupt  administration  of  the 
Papal  States,  and  the  unworthy  government 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Naples.  It  is  the  effect  of 
Austrian  preponderance  in  Italy:  the   exist- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIlioyK.  35 

ence  of  evils  already  laid  before  the  Congress 
of  Paris. 

During  the  summer  of  this  same  3ear 
Cavour  met  the  Emperor  Napoleon  III.  at 
Plombi^res,  and  transacted  amongst  other 
political  affairs  the  preliminaries  for  the  mar- 
riage between  Piincess  Clotilde,  eldest 
daughter  of  his  sovereign,  and  the  Emperor's 
uiuuly  cousin  Prince  Napoleon,  son  of  the 
ijreat  Emperor's  brother  Gerome  who  had  been 
King  of  Westphalia. 

Count  Cavour  certainly  had  reason  to  con- 
gratulate himself  on  the  results  of  his  policy, 
and  the  fruit  seemed  almost  within  his  grasp 
when,  on  the  occasion  of  the  diplomatic  recep- 
tion at  the  Tuileries,  on  January  first,  1859, 
Napoleon,  after  exchanging  compliments  with 
the  various  foreign  Ambassadors,  turned  to 
Baron  Hiibner,  the  Austrian  Envoy,  and 
curtly  remarked :  "  I  regret  that  the  relations 
between  France  and  Austria  are  not  as 
friendly  as  in  the  past ;  Ijut  assure  your 
Emperor  that  my  personal  sentiments  for  him 
are  unchanged." 

Euroj)ean  diplomacy  was  greatl}'  impressed  ; 
and  when  a  few  days  later  came  reports  of 
Victor  P^mmanuel's  speech  on  the  opening  of 
the  Sardinian  Parliament,  and  the  publication 


36  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

in  Paris  of  the  pamphlet  on  Italian  affairs, 
generally  accepted  as  inspired,  if  not  actually 
written  by  the  Emperor,  few  doubted  that  the 
long-pent  storm  was  to  break  at  last.  Com- 
menting on  the  Emperor's  words  Lord  Cowley 
wrote  to  Lord  Malmesbury  on  January  11 : 
"  Pereiretold  the  Emperor  that  his  speech  to 
Hiibner  would  cost  France  a  milliard.  Ad- 
ded to  the  King  of  Sardinia's  speech  and 
Prince  Napoleon's  marriage,  it  is  more  likely 
to  cost  two." 

A  few  days  later  the  Prince  Consort  wrote 
to  Baron  Stockmar :  "  The  state  of  Europe 
has  become  very  perplexed  since  I  last  wrote 
you.  Louis  Napoleon  thinks  he  has  found 
the  right  moment  for  making  war,  and  th3 
right  field  for  it  in  Italy,  and  the  people 
about  him,  especially  his  cousin,  have  been 
constantly  dinning  into  his  ears  :  "  C'est  une 
occasion  qui  ne  se  trouvera  pas  une  seconde 
fois  aussi  belle."  .  .  .  The  speech  on  New 
Year's  day  seems  to  have  set  light  to  the  train 
before  all  was  ready,  and  now  all  Europe  is 
alarmed,  and  would  fain  establish  a  fire 
brigade.  The  money  market  is  affected  to  a 
degree  altogether  incredible,  and  the  loss  upon 
the  Public  Funds  in  three  days  is  estimated 
at  sixty  millions  sterling." 


TUB  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TJIIIOSK.  37 

The  Emperor's  words  came  iis  a  surprise  even 
to  Victor  Eniniiimiel  and  (^ount  Cavour. 
The  latter  on  reading  them  smiled,  and  re- 
marked laconically  :  "  II  parait  que  Y  Em- 
pereur  veut  aller  en  avant."  Nothing  could 
better  liave  suite<l  the  policy  of  the  astute  di- 
rector of  the  destinies  of  the  Sardinian  gov- 
ernment. Yet  only  a  month  later  Victor  Em- 
manuel  -would  seem  to  have  had  grave  doubts 
as  to  the  fullilnient  of  the  promises  made  by 
his  powerful  neighlx)r,  who,  although  per- 
sonally anxious  to  redeem  his  i)ledges,  found 
himself  confronted  by  a  hostile  public  opin- 
ion at  home  Avhich  it  would  have  been  dan- 
gerous to  ignore. 

Driven  to  bay  by  the  prospect  of  a  possi- 
ble abandonment  of  the  Italian  cause,  the 
King  of  Sardinia  wrote  the  Emperor  in  the 
most  urgent  terms :  "  In  the  face  of  such  an 
event,"  he  exclaims,  "  which  I  look  upon  as 
impossible,  nothing  would  be  left  me  but  to 
follow  the  example  of  my  father.  King 
Charles  Albert,  and  to  lay  down  a  crown 
which  I  could  no  longer  wear  with  honor 
to  myself  or  with  safety-  for  my  people. 
Constrained  to  renounce  the  throne  of  my 
ancestors,  what  I  owe  to  mj-self,  to  the  fame 
of  my  race,  and   the  welfare   of  my  coun- 


38  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

try,  would  impose  upon  me  the  duty  of 
letting  the  world  know  the  reasons  which  had 
driven  me  to  make  so  deplorable  a  sacri- 
fice." 

Louis  Napoleon  was  too  deeply  compro- 
mised to  withdraw  even  had  his  heart  not 
been  set  on  overcoming  the  difficulties  he 
encountered.  It  soon  became  patent  that, 
should  an  occasion  not  speedily  present,  a 
pretext  would  be  forthcoming  to  precipitate 
a  crisis. 

Meanwhile  Piedmont  was  straining  every 
nerve  to  prepare  for  the  inevitable  struggle, 
and  when  the  Austrian  ultimatum  was  pre- 
sented in  Turin,  its  terms  were  rejected,  and 
diplomatic  relations  severed  on  April  twenty- 
sixth,  1859. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Cunpalgn  of  1859.— CJaribaldi  ami  Cavour.— Emilia  and  Tuscany 
under  sceptre  of  Savoy.— Naples  ami  Sicily  aunex;*<l.  -  DfUiLi 
of  Cavour.— Italian  ami  Prussian  alliance.— War  of  l^iJti.— 
Amadeus  in  the  army.— Conduct  at  Custoza.— Is  wounded  at 
Monte  Croce.— Lift?  at  Turin.—  Eupagement  and  niarriajje  of 
Amadeus.— Marriage  of  Prince  Humbert.— Birth  of  Duke 
delle  Puglie.— Amadeus  goes  to  Egypt.— He  assumes  naval 
command. 

Although  in  order  to  obtain  a  clear  appre- 
ciation of  the  influence  surrounding  Prince 
Amadeus,  it  has  been  necessary  to  attempt 
in  broad  outline  a  sketch  of  the  principal 
political  events  of  his  early  yeai-s,  in  whicli, 
however,  on  account  of  his  youth  he  could 
have  no  personal  participation,  it  does  not 
enter  into  the  scope  of  this  study  to  describe 
in  detail  the  battles  and  internal  strurrrdes  of 
the  Italians  in  the  cause  of  national  unity. 
It  \Yill  therefore  only  be  expedient  to  briefly 
enumerate  the  principal  stages  of  the  great 
enterprize    whicli    triumphantly    transported 

the    throne    of    his  father.   King   of   United 
39 


40  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Italy,  to  Florence,  and  eventually  to  that 
final  goal  so  ardently  desired — Rome. 

The  campaign  of  1859  despite  the  glorious 
memories  of  Palestro,  Magenta  and  Solferino, 
was  nevertheless  a  deception  to  Victor  Em- 
manuel and  Cavour.  The  negotiations  of 
Villafranca  and  Ziirich  were  far  from  realiz- 
ing the  sanguine  expectations  Italy  had 
based  on  the  French  intervention,  while  the 
cession  of  Nice  and  Savoy  (1860)  might 
justly  be  considered  to  have  absolved  the 
Italians  from  any  sense  of  obligation  toward 
their  allies. 

Count  Cavour,  who  had  felt  constrained  to 
tender  his  resignation  on  the  conclusion  of 
the  campaign,  and  who  had  been  succeeded 
by  Rattazzi,  was  again  at  the  head  of  the 
government  in  January,  1860.  Owing  to  his 
indefatigable  exertions  and  immense  personal 
influence  in  March  of  the  same  year  Emilia 
and  Tuscany  were,  in  consequence  of  an  al- 
most unanimous  plebiscite,  included  in  the 
monarchy. 

Garibaldi's  expedition  to  Sicily  had  been 
secretly  encouraged  and  winked  at  by  the 
government  of  Sardinia,  wliich  was  prepared, 
however,  in  case  of  foreign  complications 
arising  therefrom,  to  officially  disavow  the 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TlIUUyE.  41 

general's  actions.  In  consequence  of  the 
phenomenal  success  of  the  undertaking,  and 
the  decisive  victory  of  Volturno,  together 
with  the  flight  of  the  Neapolitan  Bourbons, 
the  minister  now  urged  Victor  Emmanuel  to 
risk  an  open  intervention  in  the  south  Ixfore 
mattere  should  become  entangled  by  tlie  in- 
tercession or  pretensions  of  foreign  diplo- 
macy. In  order  to  adhere  strictly  to  the 
constitutional  policy  of  the  sovereign  the 
Chambei"s  were  convened  and  asked  to  sanc- 
tion the  admission  into  the  Kingdom  of  such 
provinces  of  central  and  southern  Italy  as 
should  by  popular  vote  manifest  the  desire. 
Not  only  was  the  step  sanctioned  by  the 
Chambers,  but  a  vote  of  admiration  and  na- 
tional gratitude  to  Garibaldi,  and  his  brave 
foUowei-s,  was  carried  October  11,  18G0. 

The  plebiscite  in  the  Kingdom  of  the  Two 
Sicilies  resulted,  as  was  expected,  in  an  over- 
whelming majority  in  favor  of  annexation  to 
the  crown  of  Savoy,  and  before  his  death, 
now  close  at  hand,  Count  Cavour  had  the 
satisfaction  of  seeing  assembled  at  Turin  the 
first  Italian  Parliament,  in  which  sat  the  rei>- 
resentatives  of  twenty-one  million  citizens. 

Even  at  this  early  stage  it  was  recognized 
that  Rome  must  be  the  eventual  capital  of  the 


42  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

new  Kingdom,  and  for  the  first  time  the  world 
heard  Cavour's  utterance  of  his  famous  dic- 
tum "  a  free  Church  in  a  free  State  ;  "  for  the 
great  statesman  then  believed  possible  an  ac- 
commodation with  the  Holy  See. 

On  June  6, 1861,  consternation  spread  over 
Italy  with  the  news  of  the  death,  of  typhoid 
fever,  of  Count  Cavour. 

The  guiding  hand  had  passed  away,  but  the 
great  impulse  and  noble  ambitions  which  it 
had  so  wisely  nurtured  were  strong  enough 
now  to  stand  alone.  The  "  re  galantuomo." 
the  symbol  of  Honesty  and  Faith,  round 
which  almost  all  shades  of  political  opinion 
could  rally,  did  undoubtedly  by  his  strong 
personality  save  his  countrymen  years  of  civil 
strife  and  the  chaos  of  tentative  forms  of  gov- 
ernment, and  it  would  be  unfair  to  undervalue 
the  influence  of  his  subsequent  magnificent 
labor,  but  it  may  safely  be  said  that  the  genius 
of  no  one  man  was  longer  necessary  for  the 
inevitable  ultimate  success  of  Italian  Unity. 

Count  Cavour's  dying  words  were  for 
Italy,  and  an  expression  of  confidence  in  the 
great  destinies  awaiting  his  country.  "  It 
will  go  now,"  he  muttered  as  the  mists  closed 
in  darker,  and  the  light  of  that  magnificent 
intellect  flickered  and  went  out. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUROSE.  43 

From  1859  to  1866  Venetia,  still  under 
Austrian  rule,  had  followed  wistfully  the 
events  in  the  other  Italian  states,  eagerly 
awaiting  the  moment  for  her  own  liberation 
from  the  foreign  yoke.  The  moment  was  full 
of  promise.  Austria  and  Germany  having 
wrenched  from  Denmark  the  duchies  of 
Schleswig-Holstein  began  to  quarrel  over  the 
spoils,  while  Italy  keenly  watched  the  diplo- 
matic controversy  with  a  view  to  pei-sonal  ad- 
vantage from  an  open  rupture  between  the 
two  great  Northern  Powei-s. 

In  1865  the  Prussian  Minister  at  Florence 
sounded  the  Italian  Government  concerning 
a  combined  attack  on  Austria,  and,  after  pro- 
tracted preliminaries,  in  April,  1806,  a  secret 
treaty  of  offensive  and  defensive  alliance  was 
concluded  at  Berlin.  Amonsf  other  clauses 
it  was  stipulated  therein,  that  neither  comlxit- 
ant  was  to  grant  an  armistice,  or  effect  a 
peace,  until  Austria  had  agreed  to  the  cession 
of  Venetia  to  Italy,  and  of  a  territory  of 
equivalent  population  to  Prussia.  The  treaty 
was  to  become  null  three  months  after  the  ex- 
change of  ratifications,  if  in  the  interval  Prus- 
sia had  not  declared  war  on  Austria. 

The  official  notification  of  the  opening  of 
hostilities  reached  Florence  on  June  17, 1866, 


44  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   THRONE. 

and  Italy  immediately  proceeded  to  fulfil  her 
part  of  the  contract  by  forwarding  a  declara- 
tion of  war  to  the  Archduke  Albert,  Com- 
mander-in-Chief of  the  Austrian  forces  in 
Italy. 

Prince  Amadeus  was  twenty-one  years  of 
age  at  the  moment  of  the  opening  of  the  cam- 
paign of  '66.  He  was  now  to  receive  that 
baptism  of  fire  so  eagerly  sought  by  the 
princes  of  his  House.  That  he  had  already 
had  some  practical  experience  of  military  af- 
fairs, in  addition  to  the  long  years  of  patient 
and  careful  theoretical  training,  will  be  seen 
by  the  following  statement  of  his  services  up 
to  the  date  of  the  declaration  of  war  against 
Austria. 

The  Prince  received  his  first  commission  as 
Captain  of  the  Fifth  Infantry  regiment  under 
royal  decree  of  March  14,  1859,  Avhen  but  in 
his  fifteenth  year.  Sixteen  months  later  he 
was  promoted  to  be  Major  in  the  same  regi- 
ment, and  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  same  on 
June  1,1861.  In  1863  he  is  Colonel  of  In- 
fantry, still  inscribed  on  the  rolls  of  the  Aosta 
Brigade,  and  as  such  is,  by  royal  decree  of 
July  30,  1864,  intrusted  with  the  command 
of  the  First  Infantry  regiment  at  the  Camp  of 
Exercise  of  San  Maurizio.     Relieved  of  this 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   Til  ROSE.  Ab 

command  lie  is,  on  December  4,  18G4,  nomi- 
nated Colonel  of  the  Sixty-liflli  Infantry  rL'j,n- 
ment;  in  1805  is  transferred  to  the  cavalry  in 
command  of  the  Novara  Lancers,  and  linally, 
by  decree  of  May  3, 1866,  is  Major-General 
commanding  the  Lombardy  Grenadiers. 

It  is  at  the  head  of  this  brigade  that  wa 
now  find  him  going  into  action  at  Monte 
Croce. 

General  Brignone  was  in  command  of  the 
division  which  included  the  Duke's  brigade 
at  Custoza.  It  being  thought  advisable  to 
create  a  diversion  on  the  enemy's  Hank,  the 
General  called  up  for  this  purpose  the  Lom- 
bardy Grenadiers,  instructing  Amadeus  not 
to  advance  his  brigade  beyond  certain  limits 
until  reinforcements  had  arrived.  In  the 
event  of  the  movement  proving  unsuccessful 
the  Prince  was  to  withdraw  his  men  to  the 
well  of  Custoza,  and  there  make  a  stand.  In 
conformity  with  these  orders  Amadeus  moved 
his  brigade  in  the  direction  indicated,  and 
soon  found  himself  under  fire.  Shortly  after 
Captain  Cotti,  an  aide-de-camp,  was  killed 
at  his  side. 

Followed  by  Major  Balbo,  Captain  di  San 
Mai"zano  and  Lieutenant  Salvadego,  his  staff 
ofKcere,  the    Prince    now  placed  himself   at 


46  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  head  of  his  brigade  and  led  them  in  the 
assault  of  an  Austrian  battery  which  was 
causing  great  havoc  amongst  his  men.  In 
less  than  an  hour  the  position  was  carried, 
the  enemy's  guns  spiked,  and  the  tri-color 
flag  waving  over  the  captured  redoubt.  The 
charge  had  been  a  gallant  and  brilliant  one, 
but  the  cost  of  life  was  enormous. 

As  the  Duke  reined  in  his  horse  to  survey 
the  conquered  position  he  afforded  a  target 
for  tlie  rifle  of  an  Austrian  sharp-shooter  who 
lay  in  ambush,  and  whose  bullet  penetrated 
his  chest. 

A  petty  oflicer  of  his  brigade,  Alfonso 
Gibelli  by  name,  was  the  first  to  reach  his 
fallen  chief,  who  made  liglit  of  his  wound, 
assuring  those  who  crowded  about  him  that 
it  was  a  mere  scratch.  Aid  having  been  pro- 
cured, the  Duke  was  placed  on  a  mule  and 
taken  to  the  rear. 

It  is  related  that  meeting  a  wounded  soldier 
by  the  way,  Amadeus  insisted  that  he  also  be 
placed  on  the  mule,  and  that,  his  comrade 
having  fainted  from  loss  of  blood,  the  Duke 
held  him  in  his  arms  during  the  entire  pain- 
ful journey,  and  on  reaching  the  ambulance 
ordered  the  doctors  to  give  their  first  care  to 
the  man's  more  serious  wounds. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.  47 

Amadeus  passed  the  days  of  his  convales- 
cence at  Monza,  near  Mihm,  where  he  wvm  re- 
ceived by  tlie  i)opuhice  with  denionstiations 
of  sympathy  and  affection. 

Ilis  brilliant  action  brought  the  Prince  the 
coveted  medal  for  military  valor,  awarded 
only  to  those  who  have  distinguished  them- 
selves on  the  lield.  He  was  also  the  recipient 
of  an  enthusiastically  worded  address  in  which 
the  Municipality  of  Turin  did  homage  to  the 
"  hero  of  Montecroce." 

The  valor  of  leaders  or  men  did  not,  how- 
ever, maintain  the  advantages  of  the  first  en- 
gagements, and  Custoza  proved  a  lamentable 
defeat  for  the  Italian  ilag. 

Although  Turin  had  been  superseded  by 
Florence  in  its  short-lived  dignity  as  capital 
of  the  Kingdom  of  Italy,  the  city  by  the  Po 
nevertheless  retained  much  of  its  social  bril- 
liancy, and  continued  to  be  the  headquartei'S 
of  those  members  of  the  Piedmontese  nobility 
whose  official  duties  did  not  require  a  change 
of  residence  with  the  government.  During 
the  winter  months  the  inmates  of  the  lovely 
villas  dotted  over  the  surrounding  country, 
and  from  the  castles  on  the  foot-hills  of  the 
Alps,  flocked  into  the  city,  took  possession  of 
their  huge  palaces  in  the  broad,  windy  streetii, 


48  TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

and  defied  the  dreary  snow-laden  season  with 
a  never-ending  series  of  gayeties. 

Amadeus  returned  to  Turin  to  complete 
his  convalescence  and  was  soon  fully  launched 
on  the  tide  of  pleasure.  Young,  good-look- 
ing and  anxious  to  please,  bringing  with  him, 
moreover,  the  glamour  of  brave  deeds  accom- 
plished, the  Prince  rapidly  became  the  most 
popular  member  of  tlie  brilliant  throng  in 
which  he  moved.  The  Italian  is  no  snob  ;  and 
although  a  royal  prince  is  a  personage  the 
world  over,  in  Italy  to  an  extent  infinitely 
less  than  elsewhere  will  birth  give  social 
popularity — or  its  semblance.  As  was  to  be 
expected  the  young  Prince  was  received  with 
every  show  of  consideration  and  respect,  but 
in  addition  to  this  his  frank,  manly  dignity 
and  genuine  cordiality,  mingled  with  a 
thoroughly  democratic  independence  of  cliar- 
acter,  rapidly  endeared  him  to  all  with  whom 
he  was  brought  in  contact. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  social  world  of 
Turin  became  aware  of  the  Prince's  growing 
attentions  to  one  of  the  most  charming  and 
beautiful  young  women  of  the  aristocracy,  the 
Princess  Maria  Victoria  del  Pozzo  della  Cis- 
terna,  at  that  time  not  quite  twenty  years  of 
age.     Her  fatlier,  the  Prince  della  Cisterna, 


THE  SACIilFICE  OF  A  TIIROSE.  49 

belonged  to  one  of  the  oldest  noble  houses  of 
Piedmont,  and  through  her  mother,  nee 
Countess  de  Merode,  the  young  Princess 
claimed  relationship  with  the  most  distin- 
guished families  of  the  French  and  Belgian 
nobility. 

The  Prince's  affections  were  visibly  very 
seriously  engaged,  and  naturally  enough  the 
affair  gave  rise  to  endless  gossip  and  discus- 
sion, not  entirely  free  from  petty  jealousy 
and  malice.  The  majority  held  that  it  could 
only  amount  to  a  flirtation,  as  a  memljer  of 
the  royal  family  would  not  be  permitted  to 
consult  his  personal  inclination  in  a  matter 
of  such  grave  and  far-reaching  importance, 
and  that  political  considerations  would  ne- 
cessitate his  seeking  an  alliance  with  the 
daughter  of  some  Royal  House.  A  mother's 
desire  to  safe-guard  her  daughter's  peace  of 
mind,  as  well  as  to  free  her  house  from  the 
certain  imputation  of  exaggerated  ambition 
and  low  intrigue,  decided  the  Princess  della 
Cisterna  to  discourage  the  Duke's  visits,  and 
in  consequence  these  were  for  a  time  discon- 
tinued, to  the  infinite  chagrin  of  the  parties 
most  interested. 

There  were  not  lacking  charmers  who 
sought  to  console  the  unfortunate  lover,  but 
4 


50  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

their  blandishments  were  lost  on  a  nature  one 
of  whose  chief  characteristics  was  that  of  be- 
ing thoroughly  in  earnest  in  all  he  under- 
took. 

The  Duke,  sincerely  in  love,  was  in  de- 
spair. 

In  his  trouble  he  turned  to  a  mutual  friend, 
Signor  Francesco  Cassinis,  President  of  the 
Chamber  of  Deputies,  and  besought  him  to 
plead  his  cause  with  the  King. 

Victor  Emmanuel  listened  in  silence  to  the 
Duke's  ambassador.  Finally  he  interrupted 
the  eloquent  flow  of  language  by  quietly 
asking :  "  Do  the  young  people  love  each 
other?  "  "  They  idolize  one  another,"  replied 
the  President.  The  King  mused  awhile,  and 
then  gruffly  remarked :  "  Very  well :  they 
shall  be  married.  It  is  not  for  me  to  stand  in 
opposition  to  the  sentiments  of  mj^  sons." 

The  news  of  the  King's  consent  to  this  al- 
liance with  a  family  not  of  royal  blood  caused 
considerable  surprise,  but  the  majority  of  Ital- 
ians were  pleased  that  the  Prince  should  have 
selected  a  bride  from  amongst  his  own  peo- 
ple, and  cared  not  a  jot  if  the  rulers  of 
minute  German  Principalities  with  marriage- 
able daughters  raised  their  eyebrows  and 
sighed. 


THE  SACniFICE  OF  A  TJIlCOyK.  51 

The  pielimin;iiie.s  once  arranged  there  \v;w 
no  reason  for  dehiy  and  preparations  for  the 
marriage  were  rapidly  puslied  forward. 

The  nuptials  were  celebrated  at  Turin  oa 
the  30th  of  May,  18G7,  amidst  great  pomp 
and  splendor,  the  festivities  and  rejoicings 
being  shared  by  patrician  and  populace  alike. 
From  all  parts  of  Italy  came  congratulations 
and  expressions  of  goodwill,  while  the  nnmi- 
cipalities  of  the  larger  cities  sent  splendid 
gifts  and  brilliant  deputations. 

A  sad  accident  cast  a  gloom  over  the  gen- 
eral light-heartedness,  bringing  mourning  to 
many  participating  in  the  festivities.  Young 
Count  Castigliole,  a  dashing  cavalry  otticer 
belongfing  to  one  of  the  most  distinguished 
Piedmontese  families,  and  an  intimate  per- 
sonal friend  of  the  newly-married  couple, 
was  thrown  from  his  horse  while  riding  in 
the  pageant  at  the  door  of  the  royal  carriage, 
and  instantly  killed.  This  shocking  accident 
occurring  at  suih  a  moment  made  a  deep 
impression  on  the  young  Princess,  who  is  said 
never  to  have  forgotten  the  tragic  scene. 

On  the  termination  of  the  campaign  of 
186G  Amadeus  had,  in  accordance  with  the 
wishes  of  liis  father,  begun  to  occupy  him- 
self  with    matters   pertaining   to    the    royal 


52  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

marine.  After  his  marriage  the  Prince  de- 
voted himself  exclusively  to  the  study  of  na- 
val science,  receiving  liis  commission  as  Vice 
Admiral  on  the  Naval  Staff  in  1868.  Before 
the  close  of  this  same  year  he  was  appointed 
Inspector  General  of  the  Royal  Marine. 

Within  a  year  after  his  own  marriage 
Amadeus  was  called  upon  to  take  a  promi- 
nent part  in  the  celebrations  attending  the 
weddinof  of  his  brother  Humbert  with  his 
cousin  the  Princess  IMargaret  of  Savoy, 
daughter  of  the  King's  brother  the  late  Duke 
of  Genoa.  The  marriage,  like  that  of  Ama- 
deus, was  exceedingly  popular  in  Italy,  for 
the  elder  brother  also  cast  in  his  lot  with  a 
princess  of  his  own  nationality.  Besides, 
Italians  cherished  the  memory  of  the  bride's 
father,  who  liad  fought  for  national  independ- 
ence in  1848  and  1849,  and  had  acquired  a 
reputation  for  personal  bravery  and  disinter- 
ested patriotism. 

This  wedding  took  place  in  Turin  also,  in 
the  presence  of  the  King,  and  brought  to- 
gether the  various  members  of  the  royal 
family.  From  Paris  came  the  bridegroom's 
sister  the  Princess  Clotilde,  by  marriage  a 
cousin  of  the  Emperor  of  the  French,  while 
from  Lisbon  came  his  younger  sister,  Queen 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   THllONE.  53 

Miuia  Pia  of  Poitui^Ml,  for  many  years  con- 
Bidered  llie  bcst-dressecl  woman  in  Europe. 
The  ill-fated  Emperor  Frederick,  tlieii  Crown 
Prince  of  Prussia,  also  attended  the  wedding, 
and  tliere  fii"st  sowed  the  seeds  of  tlie  cordial 
pereonal  ties  which  continued  unbroken  to 
the  hour  of  his  death. 

The  i)ublic  festivities  on  this  occasion 
were  among  the  most  magnificent  ever  wit- 
nessed in  Italy :  more  especially  the  great 
historical  tournaments  which  took  place  in 
Turin  and  in  the  beautiful  Cascine  of  Hor- 
ence,  presided  over  both  in  organization  and 
execution  by  Prince  Amadeus.  Twenty-five 
years  later  (ISO-'^)  a  similar  tournament  took 
place  in  the  Borghese  gardens  at  Rome  to 
celebrate  the  silver  wedding  of  the  King 
and  Queen  of  Italy,  in  which  participated 
their  son  the  Crown  Prince,  and  the  three 
sons  of  Amadeus — tlie  Duke  of  Aosta,  Count 
of  Turin,  and  Duke  of  the  Abruzzi — while 
amongst  the  spectatoi-s  sat  the  Emperor  of 
Germany,  the  Empress,  and  a  host  of  royal 
personages,  come  together  to  do  homage  to 
Italy's  gmcious  sovereigns, 

Victor  Emmanuel  took  advantage  of  the 
general  rejoicings  on  the  occasion  of  his 
eon's  marriage  to  found  the  new  order  of  the 


54  THE  SACniFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Crown  of  Italy,  wLicli  was  created  principally 
to  honor  those  patriots  who  had  contribut- 
ed by  their  efforts  and  sacrifices  to  the  shap- 
ing of  the  new  and  happy  destinies  of  the 
Nation. 

With  the  exception  of  the  journeys  neces- 
sitated by  liis  oificial  duties  in  connection 
with  the  navy  the  Duke  continued  to  reside 
quietly  in  Turin,  or  with  the  Court  at 
Florence,  for  many  months  after  his  mar- 
riage. On  May  13,  1869,  at  Turin,  a  son 
was  born  to  the  royal  couple.  The  boy  was 
christened  Emmanuel  Philibert,  and  received 
from  his  grandfather  the  title  of  Duke  of  the 
Puglie,  which  he  continued  to  bear  until  the 
death  of  his  father  in  1890,  when  he  became 
Duke  of  Aosta  in  his  turn. 

But  a  few  months  after  the  birth  of  their 
son  the  Duke  and  Duchess  started  for  Egypt, 
on  board  the  "  Castelfidardo,"  as  the  official 
representatives  of  the  King  of  Italy  at  the 
splendid  fetes  with  which  the  Khedive,  Ismail 
Pasha,  inaugurated  the  opening  of  the  Suez 
Canal.  The  "  Castelfidardo  "  was  accom- 
panied by  the  national  squadron  as  an  escort 
of  honor.  During  this  expedition  the  royal 
pair  visited  the  Holy  Land,  and  while  in  Jeru- 
salem the  Duchess  presented  to  the  church 


THE  SACIilFICE  OF  A  Til  ROSE.  55 

of  tlio  Holy  Sepulclire  iill  her  private  jewels, 
amounting  in  value  to  over  half  a  niilliun  of 
francs. 

On  the  return  voyage  an  accident  occurred 
■which  endangered  the  safety  of  the  steamer, 
and  the  lives  of  all  those  on  board.  By  tlio 
bui*sting  of  one  of  the  boilers  several  of  the 
crew  were  killed  and  many  wounded.  For 
a  time  ollicers  and  men  were  i)anic-stricken. 
Amadeus  alone  retained  liis  presence  of  mind, 
and  by  his  calm  and  intelligent  counsels  suc- 
ceeded in  restoring  confidence  and  discipline  ; 
personally  lending  aid  to  the  sufferei"s,  and 
giving  directions  for  temporary  repairs.  The 
news  of  the  disaster,  together  with  the  admir- 
able coolness  and  aptitude  disi)layed  by  the 
Prince,  rapidly  spread  over  all  Italy.  Public 
opinion  advocated  that  the  direction  of  the 
navy,  morally  prostrated  by  the  battle  of  Lissa 
and  distracted  by  the  dissensions  of  the  vari- 
ous commanders,  should  be  given  to  His  Royal 
Plighness.  The  suggestion  was  received  with 
special  enthusiasm  by  sailoi-s  of  all  ranks,  who 
fully  appreciated  the  fact  that  their  service 
could  but  gain  by  being  ])laeed  under  so  en- 
lightened a  connnand,  and  who  were  more- 
over flattered  that  their  leader  should  be  one 
staudincr  so  near  the  throne. 


56  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

The  naval  manoeuvres  held  that  year  un- 
der the  Prince's  direction  were  most  suc- 
cessfully carried  out,  and  strengthened  the 
conviction  that  the  young  navy,  under  this 
fostering  guidance,  would  rapidly  become 
an  efficient  arm  for  the  protection  and  devel- 
opment of  the  new  Kingdom. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Franco-German  war.— Sjwnish  afTairs.— Deposition  of  Isabella 
and  efforts  to  obtain  a  KiuK.—Hohenzollern  candidate.  — His 
acceptance  and  renunciation.  —Declaration  of  war  between 
France  and  Uemiany.— Prince  Aniadeiis  a^ain  appealed  to 
by  Marshal  I'riin.  —Endeavors  to  p»'rsuade  Aniadeus  to  ac- 
cept Spanish  Crown.— His  hesitations  and  flnal  acceptance. — 
Deputation  from  Cortes  leaves  for  Florence.- Arrival  in 
Florence.— Reception  by  Victor  Emmanuel.— Speech  of  Zor- 
rlUa  and  reply  of  Amadeus. 

Four  days  previous  to  the  declaration  of 
war  against  Prussia  by  Napoleon  III.  (July 
10,  1870),  General  Lanza  received  from  the 
Marquis  Visconti-Venosta  a  communication 
stating  that  the  British  Minister,  on  visiting 
liim  the  day  before,  had  read  a  telegram  from 
Lord  Granville  announcing  that  the  Spanish 
Governineiit  w;is  prepared  to  do  all  in  its 
power  to  nullify  the  Hohenzollern  candidat- 
ure for  the  throne,  if  it  could  rely  on  the  ac- 
ceptance of  the  Spanish  Crown  by  an  Italian 
prince.  *'  As  there  is  no  time  to  lose,"  adds 
the  Minister  for  Foreign  Affaii-s,  "I  am  start- 
ins  for  Lesfhorn  to  ascertain  the  views  of  the 


58  TUB  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Duke  of  Aosta,  without  in  any  way,  how- 
ever, compromising  this  government." 

It  was  too  late,  however,  for  any  substitu- 
tion of  the  candidate  to  have  averted  the  in- 
evitable duel  between  the  two  great  Powers 
which  made  the  attempt  to  fill  the  vacant 
Spanish  throne  a  pretext  for  a  call  to  arms. 
It  is  now  clear  that  the  French  Emperor, 
while  fully  realizing  the  peril  his  dynasty  ran, 
was  placed  as  it  were  between  the  Scylla  of 
a  foreign  war,  the  issue  of  which  was  at  best 
terribly  doubtful,  and  the  Charybdis  of  al- 
most certain  revolution  at  home,  should  lie 
accept  passively  the  sujjposed  insult  put  upon 
his  country.  It  is  doubtful  also  whether  the 
Iron  Statesman  beyond  the  Rhine  would 
have  been  willing  to  let  slip  the  opportunity 
to  boldly  stake  on  the  fortunes  of  war  the 
realization  of  his  life's  dream  of  a  united  Im- 
perial Germany. 

In  1868  the  fall  of  the  Spanish  Bourbons 
and  the  flight  of  Queen  Isabella  from  St. 
Sebastian  to  Pau  left  Spain  a  prey  to  revolu- 
tion and  party  strife.  From  Santander  to 
Malaga,  from  Cape  Finisterre  to  the  Gulf  of 
Lyons,  republicans,  progressists,  Carlists  and 
royalists  were  at  work  issuing  "  pronuncia- 
mientos,"    framing    or    destroying    constitu- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  HOSE.  .','J 

tioiis,  promising  uiiivei-sal  suffrage,  liberty 
of  the  press,  abolition  of  monopolies  and 
privileges  ;  or  occupied  in  shooting  down  those 
of  their  countrymen  whose  political  views 
differed  from  tlieir  own. 

The  provisional  government  at  Madrid, 
which  had  assumed  su})reme  authority  under 
Mai-shal  Serrano  since  the  previous  Octol)er, 
resigned  its  powera  on  February  22,  1809, 
to  the  Cortes  elected  by  universal  suffrage, 
and  without  any  serious  disturbances.  This 
body,  however,  confirmed  Serrano  as  chief  of 
the  executive,  and  on  the  18th  of  the  follow- 
ing June  nominated  him  Kegent.  A  few 
weeks  later  Marshal  Prim  announced  to  the 
Chamber  the  formation  of  the  new  ministry, 
of  which  he  assumed  the  presidency.  Had 
the  election  of  a  constituent  assembly  been 
undertaken  immediately  after  the  events  in 
Cadiz  in  September,  18G8,  by  which  Queen 
Isabella  lost  her  throne,  it  is  certain  that 
little  difliculty  would  then  have  been  experi- 
enced in  eliminating  the  republican  element 
as  a  factor  in  national  politics.  The  eunsid- 
erable  delay  which  elapsed  before  an  apjieal 
to  the  nation  was  made,  and  the  squabbles  of 
the  monarchists  who,  although  unanimous  as 
to  principle,  were  totally  in  discord  as  to  the 


60  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

person  of  the  sovereign,  allowed  socialist 
agitators  a  fair  field  to  secure  a  hold  over  the 
masses  and  to  instill  the  conviction  that  a 
republican  form  of  government  was  the  only 
one  under  which  they  could  hope  for  peace 
and  justice. 

The  government  at  Madrid,  convinced  that 
the  monarchical  sj^stem  alone  offered  serious 
guarantees  of  stability,  which  views  were 
equally  shared  by  a  large  majority  of  the 
members  of  the  constituent  Cortes,  at  once 
began  to  cast  about  for  a  successor  to  the 
throne. 

After  fruitless  negotiations  with  Dom  Fer- 
dinand of  Portugal,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Utopian  phantasm  of  an  Hispano-Portuguese 
Realm,  attention  was  turned  to  Prince 
Thomas,  Duke  of  Genoa,  as  a  candidate 
likely  to  prove  generally  acceptable  to  Span- 
iards, belonging  as  he  did  to  one  of  the  most 
liberal  dynasties  of  Europe.  In  spite  of  the 
Prince's  being  under  age,  and  the  consequent 
necessity  of  a  regency,  a  large  portion  of  the 
deputies  viewed  the  selection  with  satisfac- 
tion. Prim  even  went  so  far  as  to  consider 
the  fact  of  the  Prince's  being  a  minor  as  a 
point  in  his  favor,  as  it  would  permit  of  his 
being  instructed  during  the  regency  concern- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TUUOyE.  Gl 

ing  the  political  condition  ami  wants  of  the 
country  he  was  to  govern.  The  project  was, 
however,  soon  abandoned  owing  to  the 
very  decided  opposition  of  the  young  duke's 
mother. 

In  the  autunni  of  l!S»>8  negotiations  were 
also  attempted  with  Amadeus.  The  Prince 
being  at  that  time  Heir  Presumptive  to  the 
Crown  of  Italy  the  proposals  could  not  then 
be  entertained. 

Espartero,  Duke  della  Vittoria,  who  had 
been  appointed  Regent  of  Spain  during  the 
minority  of  Isabella,  was  the  choice  of  a  con- 
siderable faction  in  the  Cortes.  The  old 
soldier,  however,  positively  refused  to  allow 
liimself  to  be  brought  forward  as  a  candidate, 
both  on  account  of  his  great  age  and  the  fact 
that  he  possessed  no  heir.  The  Duke  of 
Montpensier,  a  member  of  the  Orleans  family, 
was,  by  virtue  of  his  marriage  with  the  sister 
of  the  ex-Queen,  a  candidate  whose  popu- 
larity was  more  than  doubtful.  The  name  of 
Prince  Leopold  of  IlohenzoUernSigmaringen 
had  been  brought  forward  and  discussed,  but 
abandoned  on  signs  of  evident  dissatisfaction 
in  France.  Some  action  on  the  part  of  the 
government  became  daily  more  necessary. 
Prim,   in   rei)ly  to  an    interrogation  in    the 


62  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   THRONE. 

Chamber  on  May  7,  1870,  expressed  tlie 
universal  desire  to  terminate  the  actual  pro- 
visional political  system,  and  frankly  dis- 
claiming any  personal  ambition,  promised  that 
the  question  should  speedily  be  brought 
under  consideration. 

The  Cortes  were  adjourned  in  June,  1870, 
until  the  following  October,  after  having 
definitely  voted  the  laws  under  discussion, 
and  authorized  the  government  to  grant  an 
amnesty  whenever  it  should  be  judged  oppor- 
tune. A  few  days  later  the  news  arrived  of 
the  abdication  of  Queen  Isabella  in  favor  of 
her  son  the  Prince  of  the  Asturias,  after- 
wards Alfonso  XII.,  King  of  Spain.  This 
document,  signed  on  June  25,  1870,  in  the 
Basilewki  palace  in  Paris,  in  the  presence  of 
the  royal  family  and  the  more  notable  of  the 
exiles  who  had  followed  the  Court,  hastened 
the  solution  of  the  existing  crisis.  In  Madrid 
the  problem  of  securing  an  acceptable  suc- 
cessor to  the  throne  became  of  the  most  acute 
interest,  and  it  was  evident  a  decision  must 
be  arrived  at  with  the  least  possible  delay. 
The  Council  of  Ministers  held  on  July 
2,  after  mature  deliberation,  finally  decided 
to  officially  notify  the  Powers  that  the 
national  choice  had  fallen  on  the  Prince  of 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TJlUOyE.  G3 

Hohenzollein.  On  the  seventh  of  the  same 
month  the  Prince  signified  his  acceptance  of 
the  Crown,  provided  his  candidature  be  voted 
by  the  Cortes. 

The  news  of  the  Prince's  acceptance  of  the 
Spanish  throne  gave  rise  to  the  wildest 
tumult  in  Paris,  where  it  was  supposed  to  be 
the  result  of  an  intrigue  between  Prussia 
and  the  Spanish  Marslial.  Frencli  passions 
were  thoroughly  aroused  in  spite  of  the  em- 
phatic denial  of  the  Spanish  government  that 
the  proposal  had  been  planned  in  a  spirit 
hostile  to  F'rance,  or  that  the  negotiations 
with  Prince  Leopold  had  passed  through 
Count  Bismarck's  hands,  with  a  view  of  ob- 
taining through  his  influence  the  consent  of 
the  King  of  Prussia. 

The  revocation  by  the  Prince  of  his  former 
acceptance,  which  was  communicated  to  the 
Powei"s  on  July  12,  might  reasonably  have 
been  considered  as  putting  an  end  to  the 
controverey  :  but  it  was  not  so.  Tlie  episode 
in  the  Ems  Kurgarten,  when  M.  Bcnedetti 
publicly  accosted  the  King  of  Prussia  and 
presented  the  latest  demand  of  his  govern- 
ment, gave  Count  Bismarck  his  opportunity. 
Next  day  tlie  Berlin  papers  contained  the 
following  paragraph : 


64  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

"  When  the  intelligence  of  the  hereditary 
Prince  of  HohenzoUern's  renunciation  was 
communicated  by  the  Spanish  to  the  French 
Government,  the  French  Ambassador  de- 
manded of  His  Majesty  the  King,  at  Ems,  that 
the  latter  should  authorize  him  to  telegraph 
to  Paris  that  His  Majesty  would  pledge  him- 
self for  all  time  to  come  never  again  to 
give  his  consent,  should  the  Hohenzollerns 
revert  to  their  candidature.  UjDon  this  His 
Majesty  refused  to  receive  the  French  Am- 
bassador again,  and  sent  the  aide-de-camp 
in  attendance  to  inform  him  that  His  Ma- 
jesty had  nothing  further  to  communicate  to 
His  Excellency." 

Two  days  later  a  declaration  of  war  was 
forced  from  the  reluctant  Emperor  by  his 
ministers  and  the  maddened  Parisian  mob, 
and  the  fiercest  struggle  of  modern  times 
had  begun. 

The  isolation  of  France  in  her  hour  of  need 
was  bitterly  felt,  and  urgent  appeals  were 
made  to  Italy  to  join  her  old  ally  in  the  field  ; 
but  although  personally  Victor  Emmanuel 
would  undoubtedly  have  desired  to  give  aid, 
political  obligations  forbade  his  interference. 
Rome,  and  Rome  alone,  was  the  price  de- 
manded for  any  deviation  from  the  line  of 


THE  SACItlFICE  OF  A  TllIiOSE.  05 

strict  neutrality  ;  mid  Koiuu  the  unliapi))' 
Emperor  dared  not  yield. 

Sedan,  and  the  fall  of  the  Empire,  gave 
Italy  her  long  awaited  opportunity.  On 
September  20, 1870,  the  King's  troops  marched 
throu<:h  the  Porta  Pia  amidst  the  enthusi- 
astic  acclamations  of  the  Roman  population. 
The  last  link  in  the  chain  of  Italian  unifica- 
tion was  forged  :  Rome  became  the  capital. 

On  the  renunciation  of  the  Prince  of  Ho- 
henzoUern,  further  attempts  on  the  part  of 
Spain  to  procure  a  King  were  for  a  season  post- 
poned. After  the  disaster  of  Sedan,  and  the 
September  revolution  in  Paris,  the  Madrid 
government  again  initiated  negotiations  with 
a  view  of  obtaining  from  the  House  of  Savoy 
a  prince  capable  of  guiding  the  helm  on  the 
troubled  sea  of  Spanish  politics.  The  dy- 
nastic objections  which  existed  in  1808  in 
regard  to  the  acceptance  of  Prince  Amadeus 
were  no  longer  valid.  The  birth  of  the 
Prince  of  Naples  in  18r»0  had  provided  Italy 
with  an  heir.  Marshal  Prim's  propositions 
were  consequently  favorably  received  at 
Florence  by  the  King,  in  spite  of  the  ^lexi- 
can  catastrophe  and  cruel  fate  of  Maximilian, 
still  so  fresh  in  the  minds  of  all.  Consent 
to  the  Spanish  request  was  signified  on  the 


Gt)  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

condition  that  the  Duke  of  Aosta  be  called 
to  the  throne  by  a  plurality  of  votes  in  the 
Cortes,  and  that  in  order  to  obviate  interna- 
tional complications,  the  good  will  of  the 
powers  be  obtained.  In  consequence  a  circu- 
lar was  issued  from  Madrid  to  the  representa- 
tives accredited  to  the  foreign  Courts,  noti- 
fying them  of  the  selection  of  the  Duke  as 
the  government's  candidate  for  presentation 
to  the  Cortes,  and  requesting  the  opinion  of 
the  several  sovereigns  and  cabinets  on  such 
proceeding.  Great  Britain,  Belgium,  Portu- 
gal, France,  Scandinavia,  the  North  German 
Confederation,  Holland,  Austria  and  Turkey 
replied  in  favorable  and  friendly  terms,  while 
Russia,  in  conformity  with  tradition,  abstained 
from  any  expression  of  opinion. 

It  had  been  no  easy  matter  to  persuade 
the  Prince  to  accept  the  candidature.  He 
honestly  believed  himself,  or  any  alien,  un- 
equal to  the  task  of  restoring  order  or  har- 
mony among  the  factions  at  war  in  Spain, 
and  when  he  yielded  it  was  in  deference  to 
the  washes  of  others,  and  sorely  against  per- 
sonal inclination  and  the  dictates  of  his  own 
sound  judgment.  Perhaps  he  realized  the 
truth  of  the  warning  words  of  that  experi- 
enced old  monarch  Louis  Philippe  in  reference 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TIUIOSK.  07 

to  the  urged  intervention  of  France  in  the 
Spanish  affairs  of  1835  :  "  Let  us  help  the 
Spaniards  from  without,  but  don't  let  us  get 
into  their  boat  ourselves.  ...  I  know  them 
well,  they  are  ungovernable  and  not  to  be 
tamed  by  strangei-s ;  they  call  us  in  to-day, 
but  no  sooner  there  than  they  would  detest 
us,  and  would  hinder  us  with  all  the  means  in 
their  power."' 

It  is  related  that  (Jeneral  Lanza,  who  had 
been  sent  to  secure  the  Duke's  adhesion, 
iinding  him  stubborn  in  his  refusal,  and  hav- 
ing exhausted  all  his  arguments  in  vain, 
finally  remarked:  "Your  Highness,  every 
time  that  the  interests  of  the  State,  or  those 
of  Europe,  liave  had  need  of  the  aid  of  a 
Prince  of  the  House  of  Savoy,  such  aid  has 
never  been  refused.  Would  Your  Highness 
wish  to  be  the  first  to  act  dififerently  ?  " 

The  words  made  an  impression  on  the 
Prince,  and  his  resistance  was  weakened 
although  not  conquered. 

"  Come  to-morrow,"  lie  replied,  "  and  I  will 
give  you  an  answer."' 

On  the  morrow  the  reply  was  in  the  aftirm- 
ative,  but  shortly  after  the  Prince,  moved 
by  some  secret  and  irresistible  impulse,  again 
wavered.     Victor  Emmanuel,  who  greatly  de- 


68  TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

sired  the  realization  of  the  project,  but  who 
refrained  from  the  exercise  of  undue  pressure 
on  his  son,  conceived  the  plan  of  securing  the 
Prince's  acceptance  by  means  of  the  influence 
of  several  officers  of  his  household  in  whom 
special  confidence  was  reposed.  But  this 
metliod  met  with  signal  failure. 

The  King — a  keen  observer,  and  also  well 
aware  of  the  generous  and  brave  instincts  of 
his  son  finally  hit  upon  a  little  subterfuge 
which  successfully  overcame  the  Prince's  re- 
luctance. 

"  Of  course,"  he  remarked  on  an  occasion 
when  the  topic  was  under  discussion,  "  it  is  very 
hot  in  Spain  at  this  time,  and  by  going  there 
you  would  also  run  the  risk  of  a  disagreeable 
adventure  ;  perhaps  even  get  a  bit  of  lead  in 
your  ribs." 

The  idea  that  his  refusal  might  be  attrib- 
uted to  fear  of  bodil}^  hurt  was  intolerable. 
There  was  danger  to  be  affronted,  and  a 
service  to  be  rendered  to  a  people  who,  he  was 
led  to  believe,  saw  in  him  the  saviour  of  their 
2)olitical  future.  The  sense  of  physical  fear 
was  unknown  to  the  Prince  ;  once  persuaded 
of  the  rectitude  of  liis  action  the  possible  risks 
he  might  run  would  merely  add  zest  to  the 
undertaking. 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TllUUSK.  09 

On  this  head  many  anecdotes  are  related, 
and  liis  contempt  of  danger  exemplified. 
One  especially  gives  evidence  of  what  might 
almost  be  termed  temerity.  The  day  after 
the  dastardly  attempt  on  his  life  in  the  via 
Alcala  in  Madrid,  His  Majesty  started,  as 
liad  been  previously  arranged,  on  a  tour  of 
the  northern  provinces.  On  his  arrival  at 
St.  Sebastian  the  police  reported  that  a  con- 
spiracy w'iis  on  foot  to  assassinate  the  sover- 
eign, and  that  the  assassins  were  probably  at 
that  time  in  the  town.  The  King  listened 
calmly  to  the  re[)ort  and  warning,  and  shortly 
after  retired  for  the  night.  Next  morning 
consternation  spread  through  the  palace  when 
it  became  known  that  on  entering  the  bed- 
room at  the  usual  hour  the  valet  had  found 
no  trace  of  his  royal  master.  The  palace  and 
town  were  scoured,  and  finally  His  Majesty 
was  discovered  in  the  market-place  sitting  on 
a  bairel,  with  legs  dangling,  gossiping  in 
broken  Spanish  and  chaffing  the  market 
women,  all  of  whom  were  perfectly  aware  of 
the  identity  of  their  entertaining  visitor. 

On  one  of  his  iiedestrian  expeditions  alx)ut 
the  streets  of  Madrid  Amadous  met  Signor 
Castelar,  then  a  rabid  republican  deputy,  who. 


70  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

to  his  no  small  astonishment,  raised  his  hat  in 
salute. 

"  What  I  "  exclaimed  the  King.  "  Do  you 
now  uncover  to  royalty  ?  " 

"  Not  to  royalty,  Sire,'"  was  the  quick  reply, 
"  but  to  the  bravest  man  in  Europe." 

After  all,  Amadeus  was  told,  he  could 
hardly  be  considered  a  rank  outsider,  and  even 
rabid  nationalists  might  be  brought  to  acknowl- 
edore  his  rio^lit  to  cast  in  his  lot  with  theirs. 
The  House  of  Savoy  had  a  title  of  reversion 
on  the  Crown  of  Spain.  Philip  V.,  by  a  royal 
decree  which  formed  an  integral  part  of  the 
treaty  of  Utrecht,  had  declared  on  November 
5,  1712,  that  by  failure  of  his  legitimate  de- 
scendants he  should  be  succeeded  by  the 
Duke  of  Savoy,  and  by  failure  of  the  male 
line,  by  Prince  Amadeus  of  Carignano  and 
his  sons,  who,  as  descendants  of  the  Infanta 
Catherine,  daughter  of  Philip  II.,  had  a  clear 
and  recognized  right  to  the  throne  of  Spain. 

The  acceptance  of  the  Prince  once  obtained, 
the  Madrid  government,  at  the  opening  of 
the  Cortes,  on  November  3,  1870,  formally 
presented  Amadeus  of  Savoy,  Duke  of  Aosta, 
as  a  candidate  for  tlie  throne. 

Marshal  Prim,  after  having  exposed  the 
honorable  motives  which  prompted  the  with- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TniiOSE.  71 

drawal  of  the  Prince  of  Holienzollern,  expati- 
ated at  length  on  the  titles  possesstnl  hy  the 
new  candidate  to  win  the  love  and  admiration 
of  Spaniards  of  every  political  shade.  The  an- 
nouncement was  received  with  expressions 
of  varied  significance  by  the  republican, 
legitimist  and  Montpensier  factions. 

On  November  sixteenth,  the  date  fixed 
for  the  discussion  and  vote,  the  Cortes  was 
crowded,  and  from  the  outset  it  was  evident 
the  session  would  be  a  stonny  one.  Proceed- 
ings opened  at  half-past  two,  under  the  pres- 
idency of  Don  Manuel  Ruiz-Zorrilla,  with 
tlie  reading  of  lettei"s  from  three  deputies 
prevented  by  illness  from  attending  the  ses- 
sion. One  desired  his  vote  should  be  record- 
ed for  the  Duke  of  Aosta  ;  the  second  declared 
himself  in  favor  of  Espartero,  while  the  third 
cast  his  ballot  for  the  Duke  of  iNIontpensier. 
Later  the  protests  of  Spaniards  adveree  to 
the  candidature  of  the  Italian  prince  were 
taken  note  of,  and  gave  rise  to  an  outbreak 
of  wild  tumult  and  disorder,  during  which 
mutual  recriminations  and  accusations  of 
disloyalty  were  hurled  against  the  various 
leaders.  During  the  tempest  the  names  of 
those  who,  having  been  fervent  partisans  of 
Isabella,  had  with  equal  fervor  proclaimed 


72  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

her  fall,  were  read  to  the  Assembly,  and 
promptly  seized  upon  to  sneeringly  estimate 
the  value  of  a  certain  loyalty  which  the 
future  monarch  could  count  upon.  A  bar- 
rier was  finally  opposed  to  the  torrent  of 
abuse  and  vituperation  by  the  energy  of  the 
President  who  opportunely  unearthed  a  law 
by  virtue  of  which  at  the  election  of  a  mon- 
arch all  discussion  was  prohibited  during  the 
eight  days  preceding  such  election,  and  by 
force  of  which  consequently  no  protests  could 
either  be  read  or  listened  to. 

Order  having  with  difficulty  been  re-estab- 
lished, the  voting  was  finally  proceeded  with 
by  means  of  tickets  on  which  each  member 
wrote  the  name  of  his  candidate.  Three 
hundred  and  eleven  members  took  part  in 
the  ballot — the  number  of  deputies  entitled 
to  vote  being  three  hundred  and  forty-five. 
The  result  gave  the  Duke  of  Aosta  one  hun- 
dred and  ninety-one  votes  in  the  Chamber, 
plus  two  votes  given  by  deputies  who  were 
absent.  The  majority  required  by  the  law  for 
the  election  of  a  monarch  was  one  hundred  and 
seventy-three.  Espartero  obtained  but  eight 
votes.  Prince  Alfonso,  son  of  Isabella  II.,  re- 
ceived two.  Sixty-three  members  voted  for 
the  republic  in  one  form  or  another.     The 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TIIIiOyK.  73 

Duke  of  Montpensier  counted  twenty -seveu 
voices  in  liis  favor,  while  his  wife,  the  sister 
of  the  ex-queen,  received,  but  a  single  one. 
Nineteen  blank  tickets  were  cast,  twelve  of 
which  were  returned  by  Carlist  members. 

The  secretary  of  the  Cortes  having  read 
the  result,  Don  Manuel  Ruiz-Zorrilla  sol- 
emnly announced  that  the  Duke  of  Aosta  had 
been  legally  elected  King  of  Spain. 

Colonel  Garcia  Cabrera  at  once  started  for 
Italy,  the  bearer  of  a  letter  from  Mai-shal 
Prim  to  Victor  Emmanuel,  informing  His 
Majesty  of  the  result  of  the  election,  and 
giving  the  assurance  that  the  great  majority 
of  the  people,  as  well  as  the  army  and  navy, 
enthusiastically  applauded  the  selection. 
Shortly  afterwards  the  ollicial  deput<ation,  n])- 
pointed  by  the  Cortes  to  solemnly  tender  the 
crown  to  Prince  Amadeus,  left  Madrid  with 
President  Ruiz-Zorrilla  at  its  head.  At  Car- 
tagena the  envoys  embarked  on  the  vessels 
of  a  squadron  held  in  readiness,  and  set  sail 
for  Genoa.  The  latter  port  enforced  a  quar- 
antine of  several  days,  duration  on  the  depu- 
tation, as  yellow  fever  had  broken  out  at 
Barcelona,  and  it  was  feared  that  Cartagena 
was  also  infected. 

In  the  meanwhile  preparations  were  rapidly 


74  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

pushed  forward  in  Florence  for  the  solemn 
reception  of  the  envoys. 

"  What  a  delightful  task  it  would  be  for 
some  modern  Pepys  to  describe  the  festivi- 
ties we  are  now  witnessing  liere  in  honor  of 
the  Spanish  Deputation  sent  to  offer  the 
throne  of  Ferdinand  and  Isabella  to  Amadeo 
di  Savoia."  Thus  exclaims  one  of  the  nu- 
merous correspondents  from  the  Florence  of 
December,  1870. 

And  indeed  the  glitter  of  official  gold  lace 
and  the  flash  of  brilliant-studded  orders — 
the  rushing  to  and  fro  of  court  equipages, 
and  the  magnificence  of  the  Spanish  acces- 
sories, kept  the  good  Florentine  burghers 
open-mouthed  with  admiration.  Fifty-five 
members  composed  the  delegation,  and  the 
government  was  sorely  perplexed  as  to  where 
to  lodge  the  principals  and  suites  of  this 
gorgeous  host.  Finally  it  was  decided  to 
house  them  at  a  public  hostelry,  the  Albergo 
della  Citta,  as  none  of  the  government  or 
municipal  palaces  were  available, while  Prince 
Corsini  graciously  tendered  his  beautiful 
palace,  hard  by  on  the  Lung'  Arno,  for  ban- 
quets and  soirdes. 

International  opinion  as  to  the  wisdom  of 
Amadeus  in  accepting  the  Spanish  Crown, 


THK  SACRIFICE  OF  A  rilUOSE.  75 

and  as  to  the  possibility  of  his  luantaining  the 
same,  differed  very  widely  and  ranged  from 
the  absurdly  optimistic  to  the  darkest  depths 
of  pessimism. 

In  the  light  of  subsequent  events  it  is  curi- 
ous to  revert  toa  leader  which  appeared  in  the 
London  ''  Times"  of  November  l!«,  ISTO. 

"  We  do  not  share  the  opinion  of  those 
who  look  upon  tlie  position  accepted  by  the 
lUilian  Prince  as  'anything  but  a  bed  of 
roses.'  The  strongest  objection  that  the 
grandilocjuent  Castelar  was  able  to  urge 
against  Amadeus  was  his  alien  nationality — 
a  circumstance  which,  after  all,  oidy  exposes 
Spain  to  such  a  humiliation  as  England  and 
Belgium  and  France,  and  almost  all  the  no- 
blest and  freest  nations  in  the  world,  Spain 
herself  not  excepted,  cheerfully  submitted  to 
at  some  time  or  other.  Against  the  Prince 
pei-sonally,  even  inexorable  Republicanism 
had  nothing  to  say  .  .  .  that  Prince  Ama- 
deus and  his  Duchess  are,  by  their  pei-sonal 
qualities,  calculated  to  win  the  good  will  of 
the  sound  part  of  the  Spanish  nation  is  a  point 
on  which  no  doubt  need  be  entertained.  The 
Duke  lias  sense  and  courage,  t;ict,  discretion, 
and  that  happy  mixture  of  dignity  and  win- 
ning affability  which  covered  a  multitude  of 


76  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

his  father  and  his  grandfather's  sins.  He  is 
twenty-five  years  old,  a  married  man  with 
children,  and  his  heir  bears  the  name  of 
Emmanuel  Philibert — the  name  of  that 
Prince  of  Savoy  to  whose  genius  Spain  is 
indebted  for  the  most  signal  victory  her 
arms  ever  obtained  over  those  of  France.* 
Both  the  duke  and  his  consort — the  last  born 
a  subject,  though  of  noble  rank — have  been 
the  most  popular  members  of  the  royal 
family  in  Italy,  and  especially  at  Naples, 
where  the  House  of  Savoy  was  till  lately  as 
utter  a  stranger  as  it  was  in  Spain,  and  where 
it  had  long  been  the  object  of  inveterate  prej- 
udice." 

On  December  4th,  Victor  Emmanuel  re- 
ceived the  Delegation  in  solemn  audience  in 
the  throne-room  at  the  Pitti  Palace,  and  with 
all  the  pomp  and  ceremony  befitting  the  im- 
portant mission  on  which  it  came.  The 
delegates  were  conveyed  to  the  palace  in 
carriages  of  state,  and  received  by  the  sover- 
eign, Amadeus  at  his  right,  surrounded  by 
the  Princes,  Ministers  and  great  dignitaries 
of  the  Kingdom.  The  Spanish  Envoy  hav- 
ing officially  presented  the  Deputation,  Seiior 

*  Emmanuel  Philibert,  "  Tete  de  Fer."    Battle  of 
Saint  Quentin,  1557. 


TUL  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TJIIiO.\E.  77 

Ruiz-Zoirillii  gave  utterance  to  the  follow- 
ing: 

"  Sire  :  We  come  as  representatives  of  the 
Constituent  Cortes  to  ofifer  to  your  son,  His 
Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Aosta,  the 
crown  of  Spain,  and  Your  Majesty  being 
the  head  of  the  family  of  the  illustrious 
Prince,  it  is  of  you  that  we  respectfully  crave 
permission  to  do  so.  Before  Your  Majesty 
grants  the  permission  we  liopo  for,  it  must 
be  permitted  us  to  express  our  profound 
gratitude  for  the  honoi-s  and  couitesies 
which  have  been  lavished  upon  us  from  the 
moment  we  reached  the  shores  of  Italy. 
Having  received  these  honoi-s  by  virtue  of 
the  mandate  and  the  representation  with 
which  we  are  vested,  we  shall  take  pleasure 
in  communicating  these  proofs  of  consider- 
ation and  benevolence  to  the  Constituent 
Cortes,  as  now,  making  oui-selves  its  faithful 
interpretei-s,  we  offer  prayei"s  to  Heaven  for 
the  prosperity  of  your  Kingdom  ;  for  the 
happiness  and  grandeur  of  Italy." 

To  which  the  King  made  reply :  "  By 
your  request,  gentlemen,  you  render  a  great 
honor  to  my  dyiuvsty  and  to  Italy,  and  at  tlio 
same  time  demand  a  sacrifice  of  my  heart.  I 
grant  my  consent  to  my  beloved  son's  accept- 


78  TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

ance  of  the  glorious  throne  to  which  the 
voice  of  the  Spanish  people  calls  him.  I  am 
convinced  that,  by  the  aid  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, and  the  confidence  of  your  noble 
Nation,  he  will  be  enabled  to  accomplish  his 
liigh  mission  for  the  prosperity  and  for  the 
grandeur  of  Spain." 

Ruiz-Zorrilla  then  turned  to  the  Duke, 
addressing  him  in  the  following  words : 
"  Most  Serene  Sir :  The  Constituent  Cortes 
of  the  Spanish  Nation,  terminating  the  great 
and  delicate  mission  entrusted  it  by  the  lib- 
eral suffrage  of  the  people,  in  the  solemn 
public  session  held  on  the  sixteenth  ultimo, 
elected  Your  Highness  to  the  throne.  By 
virtue  of  the  lionorable  confidence  reposed  in 
us  by  the  Cortes  we  come  to  acquaint  Your 
Highness  w^ith  the  vote  of  the  representatives 
of  a  People,  master  of  its  destinies,  and  to 
invite  you  to  accept  this  spontaneous  offer, 
placing  on  your  brow  this  crown  of  Spain 
made  famous  by  the  glorious  deeds  of  a  hun- 
dred monarchs.  Tliis  is  not  the  place  to  ex- 
amine into  the  causes  of  our  recent  political 
revolution,  but  we  would  recall  to  Your 
Highness  that  our  national  history  at  every 
page  records  loyalty  to  the  monarch,  fealty 
to  the  oath,  and  at  the  same  time  the  affec- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIJROyE.  79 

tioii  und  tenacity  with  which  the  Spanish 
people  liave  always  guarded  their  privileges 
and  their  liberties.  The  nionaichieal  senti- 
ment of  the  Spanish  nation,  rooted  Ijy  the 
unbroken  traditions  of  centuries  in  the  hearts 
of  the  various  social  classes,  and  bound  to- 
day in  close  alliance  with  the  ideal  of  modern 
justice,  exacts  that  the  monarchy  which  rej)- 
resents  our  glories  and  lills  our  past,  should 
be  founded  on  national  sovereignty,  and 
should  be  j)erpetuated  b}'  the  aid  of  all, 
strong  in  the  indestructible  legitimacy  of  its 
origin.  Thus  will  it  surely  contribute  to  the 
prosperity  and  grandeur  of  our  country — the 
aim  of  our  endeavors,  tlie  constant  oljject  of 
our  most  cherished  hopes.  With  a  view  to 
this  great  and  glorious  end  the  Spanish  Cortes 
have  sought  in  that  House  of  Savo}-,  which, 
by  its  identification  with  the  national  senti- 
ment of  noble  Italy,  has  shaped  her  prosper- 
ous destinies  by  the  aid  of  liberal  institutions, 
a  Prince  whom  they  may  invest  with  the  au- 
gust dignity,  and  on  whom  they  may  confer 
the  high  prerogatives,  attributed  by  the  Con- 
stitution of  18<*»0  to  the  Monarch.  Spain 
hopes  to  find  in  Your  Highness  a  King  who, 
proclaimed  by  the  love  of  the  nation  and 
solicitous  of  her  weal,  shall  heal  the  wounds 


80 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 


opened  in  her  heart  by  continual  misfortune, 
and  which  have  weakened  the  might  by  which 
in  former  days  she  prevailed,  divining  and  fos- 
tering the  genius  of  the  Immortal  Genovese 
to  conquer  for  civilization  a  new  world,  while 
by  her  deeds  she  aroused  the  old  to  the  appre- 
ciation of  the  splendor  of  her  glory.  Never- 
theless, the  cradle  of  so  many  heroes  is  dead 
neither  to  Future  nor  to  Hope  !  She  was 
decadent  and  prostrate  when,  at  the  opening 
of  this  century,  her  King  a  prisoner,  her  ter- 
ritory invaded,  slie  astonished  the  world  by 
the  vigor,  by  the  heroism  with  which  she 
fought,  until  she  hurled  the  invader  from  her 
soil  and  regained  her  lost  independence.  A 
people  which  still  is  capable  of  such  virile 
energy,  and  which  inscribes  in  the  Temple 
of  Immortality  the  names  of  its  sons  and  its 
cities,  has  the  right  to  believe  its  misfortunes 
transitory,  and  to  trust  that  Providence  will 
compensate  it  for  its  sufferings  by  leading  it 
to  new  and  higher  destinies.  In  the  name 
of  the  Spanish  People,  we,  their  representa- 
tives, offer  you  the  Crown.  Our  most  hon- 
orable mission  accomplished,  it  rests  with 
Your  Highness  to  decide  whether  to  rule  the 
destinies  of  Spain,  whose  ancient  glories  have 
often   been   associated    with   those    of   your 


TUE  SAClilFICE  OF  A  Til  RON  K.  si 

family,  and  whose  old  Kings  are  your  ances- 
toi-s,  offer  a  suflicient  incentive  to  the  lofty 
aspirations  of  a  young  prince  desirous  of 
emulating  by  his  deeds  the  great  examples 
of  his  predecessors." 

Amadeus  Avas  deeply  moved  during  the 
deliver}'-  of  his  reply :  so  deeply  at  times 
that  his  sentences  became  almost  inaudible 
to  those  nearest  liim,  and  it  was  apparent  to 
all  that  the  tremendous  responsibilities  he 
was  about  to  assume  weighed  heavily  on  the 
conscientious  prince.  No  doubt  the  probable 
ultimate  consequence  of  the  step  was  clearly 
before  his  mind.  As  we  have  said  Victor 
Emmanuel  had  set  his  heart  on  the  acceptance 
of  this  brilliant  offer  which  he  rightly  called 
an  honor  to  his  dynasty  and  to  Italy,  and 
which  might  be  construed  as  a  glorious  rec- 
ognition of  the  policy  of  straightforward 
honesty  so  persistently  pursued  since  the  ac- 
cession to  the  tlu-one  of  "  il  re  galantuomo." 
Nevertheless  the  analogies  Wtween  his  son's 
future  position  and  tiiat  of  Maximilian  must 
have  thrust  themselves  on  his  mind,  and  even 
the  repeated  and  optimistic  i\ssurances  of  the 
over-sanguine  Prim  can  hardly  have  allayed 
all  apprehension.  It  is  more  probable  that 
the  old  fearlessness  of  Casa  Savoia — that 
6 


82  TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

contempt  of  danger  in  any  shape  or  form — 
and  the  strict,  unquestioning  sense  of  duty, 
prompted  the  desire  to  see  his  son  undertake 
the  noble  task.  When  after  Custoza  Victor 
Emmanuel  was  informed  of  the  wound  which 
had  laid  Amadeus  low,  and  of  Humbert's 
peril  during  the  charge  of  Austrian  cavalry, 
it  was  the  soldier's  voice  which  spoke  before 
that  of  the  father :  "  Dead  or  wounded,  what 
matters  it  so  long  as  my  sons  are  not  pris- 
oners." Followed  shortly  by  an  outburst  of 
paternal  enthusiasm :  "  Blood  does  not  lie  ! 
Bravo  Amadeus !  " 

The  manly  modesty  and  frank  opinions  ex- 
pressed in  the  Prince's  reply  convinced  all 
who  heard  him  of  the  sincerity  of  his  emotion, 
and  of  the  earnestness  with  which  he  under- 
took the  duties  thrust  upon  him. 

"  Gentlemen,"  he  began  ;  "  the  eloquent 
speech  of  your  Honorable  President  has  in- 
creased the  natural  and  profound  agitation 
which  the  vote  of  the  Constituent  Assembly 
of  SjDain  had  already  caused  me.  With  a 
heart  full  of  gratitude  I  will  briefly  set  before 
you  the  reasons  which  liave  j^rompted  my  ac- 
cepting, as  I  do  here  before  you  accept  with 
the  aid  of  God  and  with  the  consent  of  the 
King   my  father,  the   ancient   and   glorious 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIIIONE.  83 

crown  you  come  to  offer  nie.  (iocl  luid 
alreiulj  granted  me  an  enviable  destiny. 
Born  of  an  illustrious  dyna^sty,  partieijjating 
in  the  glories  and  fortunes  of  my  ancient 
House  without  liaving  the  responsibilities  of 
government,  I  had  before  me  a  pleasant  and 
happy  existence,  during  which  occasions 
have  not  failed  in  the  past  nor  would  be  likely 
to  be  lacking  in  the  future,  of  usefully  serv- 
ing my  country.  You  have  come,  Honorable 
Sii"s,  to  open  to  me  a  far  larger  horizon.  You 
call  me  to  fulfil  obligations,  great  at  any 
time,  but  more  than  ever  formidable  in  these 
times  of  ours.  Faithful  to  the  traditions  of 
my  ancestors,  who  never  swerved  either  be- 
fore a  duty  or  in  the  face  of  peril,  I  accept 
the  noble  and  lofty  mission  which  Spain  con- 
fides to  me,  although  I  am  not  unaware  of  the 
difficulties  of  my  new  ta.sk,  nor  of  the  responsi- 
bility I  assume  before  History.  But  I  trust 
in  God  who  sees  the  rectitude  of  my  inten- 
tions, and  I  place  confidence  in  the  Spanish 
People  so  justly  proud  of  their  independence, 
of  their  great  religious  and  political  traditions, 
and  who  have  given  proof  of  their  al)ility  to 
combine  with  order  the  passionate  and  un- 
governable love  of  liberty.  Gentlemen :  I 
am  still  too  young  and  the  acts  of  my  life  are 


84  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

too  unworthy  for  me  to  attribute  to  personal 
merit  the  choice  which  the  Spanish  Nation 
has  made.  You  have  considered,  I  am  sure, 
that  Providence  has  granted  to  my  youth  that 
most  fruitful  and  most  useful  education — the 
spectacle  of  a  people  reconquering  its  in- 
dependence through  close  union  with  its  King, 
and  the  faithful  adherence  to  liberal  institu- 
tions. You  desire  that  your  country  on 
which  Nature  has  lavished  all  her  gifts  and 
History  all  its  glories,  shall  also  enjoy  this 
happy  unity  which  has  made,  and  always  will 
continue,  I  trust,  the  prosperity  of  Italy.  It 
is  to  the  glory  of  my  father,  and  the  fortune 
of  my  country,  that  I  am  indebted  for  my 
election,  and  in  order  to  render  myself  worthy 
of  it  I  can  only  loyally  follow  the  example 
of  the  constitutional  traditions  which  have 
guided  my  education.  A  soldier  in  the  army 
I  will  be,  Gentlemen,  the  first  citizen  before 
the  representatives  of  the  nation.  The  annals 
of  Spain  are  full  of  glorious  names  ;  kniglitly 
deeds ;  wonderful,  great  captains ;  navi- 
gators ;  famous  Kings  !  I  know  not  whether 
it  will  be  granted  me  to  shed  my  blood  for 
my  new  country,  or  if  it  will  be  vouchsafed 
me  to  add  a  page  to  the  many  wliich  illustrate 
the  glories  of  Spain.     But  in  any  event  I  am 


THE  SACniFWE  OF  A   TllIlOyE.  85 

very  certain,  because  this  much  clepeiids  ou 
myself  and  not  on  my  destiny,  that  Spaniards 
will  always  be  able  to  say  of  the  King  of  tiieir 
choice  :  'His  loyalty  rises  above  part}-  strife  ; 
he  has  nought  in  his  heart  beyond  the  desire 
for  concord  and  the  prosperity  of  the  Nation.' " 

The  ceremony  was  concluded  by  the  read- 
ing of  the  formal  deed  of  accept.ince,  which 
was  duly  signed  by  the  King-Elect,  Victor 
Emmanuel,  the  Marquis  Visconti  Venosta 
and  Sefior  Ruiz-Zorrilla. 

Next  day  Victor  Emmanuel  notified  the 
Italian  Parliament  of  liis  son's  accession  to  the 
Siianish  throne,  and  dwelt  in  terms  of  pride 
and  affection  on  the  compliment  paid  his  dy- 
nasty, while  expressing  his  confidence  in  the 
ability  of  the  Prince  to  faithfully  guide  the 
sister  country  in  the  path  of  Peace  and  Pros- 
perity. 


CHAPTER  V. 

Amadeus  embarks  at  Spezia  on  "  Numancia."— Queen  Isa- 
bella's protest.— Assassination  of  Marshal  Prim.— Arrival  of 
Amadeus  at  Carthagena  and  Madrid.— Visit  to  the  Atocha.— 
Ceremony  at  the  Cortes.— The  Kegent's  farewell   speech.- 

y  Formation  of  Ministry  entrusted  to  Serrano.— Arrival  of 
Queen  Maria  Victoria.— Election  of  Cortes.— Spanish  politi- 
cal parties  ;  their  aims  and  organizations.— Difficulties  sur- 
rounding the  new  King. — His  convictions  and  scruples. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  ceremonies  and 
fetes  at  Florence  attending  his  investiture  of 
the  high  dignity  conferred  upon  him,  Ama- 
deus returned  to  Turin  to  confer  with  the 
Duchess  who,  still  suffering  from  the  effects 
of  her  recent  confinement  (Count  of  Turin, 
born  in  Turin,  November  24,  1870),  had  been 
unable  to  accompany  her  husband  to  the 
capital. 

It  was  now  arranged,  the  King's  immediate 
presence  being  necessary  at  Madrid,  that 
Maria  Victoria  with  her  two  sons  should  fol- 
low when  she  had  sufficiently  regained  her 
strength,  while  Amadeus  set  out  alone    for 

tlie  country  of  his  adoption. 

8G 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIIIOSK.  87 

After  a  liasty  visit  io  Florence,  ulu-re  he 
reniiiiiied  but  a  few  liours  in  order  to  receive 
his  father's  blessing  and  bid  a  linal  farewell 
to  the  other  nifnibei-s  of  liis  family,  Aniadeus 
left  on  Christmas  night  for  Spezia,  there  to 
embark  on  the  Spanish  frigate  whicli  was  to 
convey  him  to  Barcelona.  The  King-IClcct 
■was  accompanied  thus  far  on  his  journey  by 
his  brother  Prince  iruml)ert  and  Prince 
Euijene  C'ariirnano.  (Jeneral  CiaKlini,  with 
the  itink  of  special  Ambixssador  to  the  King 
of  Spain,  was  to  escort  his  royal  master  as  far 
as  Madrid. 

At  noon  on  December  26th,  on  the  airival 
of  the  train  at  Spezia,  the  royal  party  at  once 
proceeded  to  the  harbor  to  embark  on  the 
"Xumuncia"  which  was  lying  at  anchor  in 
the  bay.  The  weather  was  dull  and  dreary, 
and  snow  fell  as  the  launch  left  the  quay. 
Besides  the  local  authorities  and  oflicials  but 
few  pei"sons  had  ventured  forth  to  witness 
the  departure  of  the  Prince.  A  feeble  at- 
tempt at  a  cheer  was  made  as  the  party  left 
the  landing-stage,  but  the  proceedings  were 
characterized  throughout  by  moral  as  well  as 
atmos[)heric  depression,  and  even  the  Spanish 
otlicials  showed  but  little  enthusiasm  in 
spite  of  tlie  thunder  of  the  guns,  and  brave 


88  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

display  of  bunting  of  the  assembled  war 
vessels. 

As  Prince  Humbert  and  the  other  visitors 
left  the  "  Numaneia  "  Amadeus  uttered  the 
prophetic  words :  "  I  go  to  fulfil  an  impos- 
sible mission.  Spain,  now  divided  into  vari- 
ous parties,  will  unite  against  a  foreign  King, 
and  I  shall  soon  be  obliged  to  return  the 
crown  they  have  offered  me." 

To  the  reply  that  the  well-known  loyalty 
of  the  House  of  Savoy  would  disarm  and  con- 
quer his  enemies,  he  sadly  murmured,  "  My 
loyalty  will  not  be  able  to  save  me  from  the 
fury  of  the  contending  factions." 

Doubtless  the  warning  words  of  Mendez 
Vigo,  uttered  a  few  days  previously,  were  in 
the  Prince's  mind.  In  a  furious  attack  on 
the  President  of  the  Council,  accusing  him 
of  manufacturing  out  of  whole  cloth  the 
enthusiastic  reports  of  the  welcome  which 
would  be  accorded  the  Duke  of  Aosta  in 
Spain,  Vigo,  had  exclaimed  :  "  I  am  a  loyal 
Spaniard,  and  I  owe  the  truth  to  the  King- 
Elect.  I  ask  him  before  he  enters  Spanish 
territory  to  employ  some  means  of  ascertain- 
ing the  true  opinion  of  the  Spanish  people." 

Meanwhile  it  must  not  be  supposed  tliat 
Queen   Isabella   calmly   submitted    without 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUIiOSE.  89 

protest  to  what  she  naturally  considered  the 
usurpation  of  the  rights  of  her  son  Don 
Alfonso,  in  whose  favor  she  had  ab<licated 
a  tlirone  she  in  truth  no  longer  possessed. 
From  (ieneva  a  vigorously  worded  manifesto 
was  launehed  : 

"  The  revolution  continues  its  career,  and 
has  just  disavowed  the  rights  of  my  son, — 
who  is  tonlay  your  legitimate  King  according 
to  all  the  Spanish  Constitutions, — hy  calling 
to  the  throne  of  St.  Ferdinand  and  of  Charles 
V.  a  foreigner,  whose  merits,  however  great, 
cannot  entitle  him  to  be  your  Sovereign  in 
the  face  of  the  riglits  of  a  whole  dynasty,  the 
only  one  which  lias  in  its  favor  that  legiti- 
macy, consecrated  by  the  lapse  of  ages  and 
by  constitutions  which  it  has  been  a  signal 
folly  to  disavow." 

The  ex-Queen  then  adds  that  she  would 
not  restore  the  throne  to  her  son  at  the  cost 
of  Spanish  blood,  enough  of  which  has  been 
already  shed,  but  that  she  entei-s  this  solemn 
protest,  and  is  confident  that  when  the  rev- 
olutionary torrent  has  s[>ent  itself,  the  res- 
toration may  be  brought  .ibout  pacifically. 

Similar  pronunciamentos  from  the  pen  of 
Don  Carlos  stimulated  the  energies  of  his 
partisans,  who  had  proclaimed  him  King  in 


90  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  famous  assembly  held  at  Vevey,  Switzer- 
land, on  April  18,  1870  ;  on  the  conclusion 
of  which  the  royal  exile  had  actually  con- 
stituted a  ministr}^  and  distributed  military 
commands  in  the  Peninsula  to  which  he  dared 
not  himself  return. 

Political  passions  ran  high  in  Madrid,  while 
in  the  provinces  the  situation  was  further 
complicated  by  the  efforts  of  the  Alphonsists. 
Carlists,  Republicans,  and,  last  but  not  least, 
the  members  of  the  "Internacional."  The 
prospects  for  a  peaceful  accession  of  the  new 
Ruler  were  doubtful  at  best,  when  an  event 
occuri'ed  which  shook  the  political  fabric  to 
its  foundations,  and  deprived  the  Crown  at  a 
blow  of  its  chief  support. 

With  the  assassination  of  General  Prim 
the  possibility  of  the  foundation  of  a  foreign 
dynasty  in  Spain  vanished.  By  virtue  of  the 
combined  prestige  of  Prim  and  Serrano  it 
might  have  floated  a  while  longer  than  it 
did,  but  with  the  disappearance  of  either  it 
must  inevitably  have  sunk  below  the  over- 
wlielraing  blood  of  national  opposition. 

The  session  of  the  Cortes  on  December  27, 
had  been  marked  by  violent  denunciation  on 
the  part  of  the  opposition  to  the  new  rdgime. 
In    vain    had    Prim    argued,    stormed    and 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  ROSE.  Ul 

pleaded,  surpassing  liimself  in  his  effort  to 
shield  the  sovereign  whose  advent  he  so  im- 
patiently awiiited. 

Laboring  under  great  excitement,  which 
he  made  no  attempt  to  conceal,  the  General, 
in  company  witli  two  of  his  aides-<.le<'amp, 
left  the  Cortes  after  dark  to  drive  to  the 
Ministry  of  War.  As  the  carriage  entered 
the  narrow  Calle  del  Turco  it  was  stopped 
by  a  party  of  armed  men  and  the  General 
fired  upon  at  close  range.  The  assault  was 
so  sudden  and  unexpected  tliat  no  attempt 
could  be  made  to  seize  tlie  aggressors,  who 
promptly  took  to  llight.  Nine  shots  had  taken 
effect ;  seven  in  tlie  left  shoulder  and  two 
in  the  riglit  luind.  Covered  with  blood  the 
General  sank  in  the  arms  of  an  aide-de-camp, 
while  the  carriage  was  diiven  at  full  gallop 
to  his  residence.  In  spite  of  the  gravity  of 
the  wounds  and  the  necessary  amputation 
of  his  fingei-s,  the  doctoi-s  did  not  at  lirst 
apprehend  a  fatal  termination.  For  two  days 
Madrid  hovered  between  hope  and  desi)air ; 
on  the  third  fever  ensued,  and  at  half-p;xst 
eight  o'clock  on  the  evening  of  December  30, 
but  a  few  liours  before  tlie  arrival  of  tlie  King 
on  whose  brow  he  had  labored  so  pei'sistently 
to  place  the  crown,  Prim  expired. 


92  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

The  first  news  which  greeted  Amadeus 
when  the  "  Numancia  "  cast  anchor  in  the 
harbor  of  Carthagena,  was  that  of  the  as- 
sassination of  the  man  to  whom  he  must 
naturally  turn  for  guidance  and  advice  on  tak- 
ing up  the  reins  of  government.  Nor  were 
the  motives  for  the  assassination  obscure  or 
far  to  seek.  If  Prim  had  found  death  at  the 
hands  of  his  political  adversaries,  yet  country- 
men withal,  for  the  part  he  had  played  in 
attempting  to  bring  peace  to  his  distracted 
country,  there  could  be  but  little  doubt  that 
the  foreign  Ruler,  whose  importation  was  so 
bitterly  resented,  would  from  the  outset  be- 
come the  target  of  every  discontented  dagger 
within  the  realm. 

Yet  Amadeus  hesitated  not  a  moment. 
Turning  to  those  around  him  he  sadly  ex- 
claimed :  "  Gentlemen,  my  duty  is  clear.  Let 
us  get  on  to  Madrid." 

Passing  the  night  at  Aranjuez,  where  his 
reception  by  the  populace  was  cold  and  for- 
bidding, the  King  reached  Madrid  about  noon 
on  January  2,  1871. 

An  official  reception  had  been  prepared  for 
the  new  King,  and  the  approaches  to  the  sta- 
tion, and  streets  tlirough  which  he  must  pass, 
were  thronged  with  vast  crowds  assembled,  in 


THE  SACIilFICE  OF  A  TllllOSK.  03 

spite  of  the  bitter  cold  and  snow,  to  witness 
the  arrival  of  the  sovereign.  A  state  carriage 
was  in  waiting  to  convey  liini  to  tlie  Cortes. 
Declining  this  the  King  signilied  his  inten- 
tion of  entering  the  capital  on  lioreeback. 

As  the  brilliant  escort  of  generals  and  aides- 
de-camp  started  it  soon  became  evident  to 
Amadeus  that  special  precautions  were  being 
devised  by  the  memljei-s  of  his  suite  to  sur- 
round him  in  such  manner  as  to  prevent  any 
possible  contact  with  the  public  crowd  for  fear 
of  insult,  or  woi-se.  The  King  thereupon 
requested  all  accompanying  him  to  fall  back, 
and  rode  alone  several  paces  in  advance  of  his 
brilliant  following. 

From  the  railway  station  the  King  pro- 
ceeded direct  to  the  church  of  Atocha  where 
the  remains  of  Prim  lay  in  state.  A  large 
painting  representing  the  scene  hangs  in  the 
apartments  of  the  Ducal  Palace  in  Turin. 
The  genei*al  lies  in  his  unclosed  coffin,  in  full 
uniform,  his  hands  folded  upon  his  breast. 
Four  tall  candles  burn  at  the  corners  of  the 
low  platform  on  which  the  bier  rests.  Ama- 
deus stands  l^eside  the  corpse,  his  hands 
clasped  upon  his  sword,  liis  head  bowed  in 
grief.  At  a  respectful  distance  hovers  a 
brilliant  group  of  generals,  diplomatists  and 


94  TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

statesmen,  while  in  the  background  a  half- 
dozen  priests  recite  the  prayers  for  the  dead. 

What  a  contrast  from  the  grim  presence  of 
death  to  the  scene  in  the  Cortes,  where  the 
young  King  now  goes  to  take  the  oath  and 
receive  the  homage  of  his  new  subjects  ! 

As  he  glanced  round  the  serried  ranks  of 
members  of  both  branches  of  the  Cortes,  Ama- 
deus  knew  that  even  here  amongst  those  assem- 
bled to  give  him  official  greeting  were  inexor- 
able foes,  morally  responsible  if  not  directly 
accountable  for  the  political  crime  which  had 
deprived  him  of  his  staunchest  ally.  Not 
even  the  glittering  uniforms  of  the  represent- 
atives of  army,  navy  and  diplomacy,  or  the 
sumptuous  toilettes  of  the  Court  Ladies,  daz- 
zling with  jewels  and  gay  with  flowers,  could 
efface  the  sombre  memory  of  the  silent  form 
lying  yonder  in  the  church  of  the  Atocha, 
and  which  should  have  been  so  conspicuous  a 
figure  near  the  throne.  To  the  sensitive  ears 
of  the  new  King  the  enthusiastic  and  pro- 
longed cries  of  welcome  which  greeted  his 
entrance  had  a  false  ring,  noticeable  even  under 
the  emotion  they  caused. 

On  the  entrance  of  the  King,  the  President 
arose  and  read  the  following  message  from 
the  Resrent : 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.  95 

"  Deputies:  The  revolution  of  18t58,  initiated 
through  the  bravery  of  the  army  and  navy, 
and  prepared  by  national  sentiment,  lias  be- 
come pei"sonified  in  this  Constituent  Assem- 
bly which,  comprehending  the  needs  of  the 
country,  has  given  satisfaction  to  liberal  aspi- 
rations while  preserving  peace  and  order, 
granting  a  fundamental  code  having  as  its 
basis  democratic  principles,  guaranteed  by  a 
monarchy,  the  more  lofty  and  worthy  of  respect 
emanating  as  it  does  from  the  j)opular  sove- 
reignty. The  constitution  having  been  voted, 
the  Assembly  desired  to  develop  the  system 
adopted  by  it,  and  while  the  election  of  the 
Prince  who  Avas  to  occupy  the  throne  was 
being  prepared,  placed  its  confidence  in  me, 
rendering  me  the  high  honor  of  entrusting 
to  me  public  affairs  and  the  direction  of  the 
policy  framed  by  the  Chamber.  I,  from  that 
moment  desirous  of  accomplishing  with  loyal 
impartiality  the  duty  you  charged  me  with, 
have  had,  in  common  with  the  Chamber,  the 
responsibility  of  the  important  interval  which 
closes  to-day.  Nevertheless  I  do  not  regret 
traversing  so  many  and  such  diflicult  trials 
since  they  have  leftusall  the  consciousness  of 
the  fulfilment  of  duties  imposed  upon  us  by 
our  country.     Tiie  day  has  at  length  arrived 


96  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

on  which  your  labor  is  terminated,  and  on 
which  I  must  resign  the  powers  which,  to 
enable  me  to  assist  you  in  accomplishing  an 
end,  you  confided  to  me.  With  an  easy  con- 
science I  abandon  the  high  magistracy  with 
which  you  invested  me,  hoping  the  verdict  of 
my  country  will  be  benign,  and  considering 
myself  rewarded  with  the  opinion  you  have 
formed  as  to  my  conduct ;  which  opinion  re- 
mains impressed  on  my  most  sacred  feelings. 
May  God  grant  the  fervent  prayers  I  offer  up 
to  Him  for  the  prosperity  and  future  of  my 
dear  country.  May  our  fellow-citizens  grate- 
fully cherish  the  memory  of  this  Assembly 
whose  labors  result  in  the  monarchy  we 
inaugurate  to-day,  and  towards  which  we  all 
look  for  the  happiness  of  this  noble  nation." 

Grand  words,  and  modest,  coming  as  they 
did  from  one  in  whose  hands  had  so  long  lain 
the  destiny  of  a  great  nation,  and  from  one 
who,  looking  only  to  what  he  considered  the 
public  good,  had  so  strenuously  rejected  all 
temptation  for  personal  aggrandizement. 

The  constitution  of  1809  having  been  read, 
His  Majesty  arose  and  took  solemn  oath  to 
accept  and  defend  the  same,  as  well  as  the 
laws  of  the  Kingdom.  The  President  then 
turninof  to  the   chamber  amidst  enthusiastic 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  RONE.  97 

applause  proclaimed  Ainadeus  I.  King  of 
Spain. 

The  Constituent  Cortes,  its  laboi-s  having 
ended  with  the  election  and  proclamation  t>f 
the  Sovereign,  was  now  declared  dissolved, 
and  the  responsibilities  and  cares  of  govern- 
ment devolved  upon  the  young  Monarch. 

The  lirst  otlicial  act  of  the  new  Ruler  con- 
sisted in  the  selection  of  a  ministry,  tlie  for- 
mation of  which  was  naturally  enough  en- 
trusted to  Mai-shal  Serrano.  The  Mai-shal 
himself  Prime  Minister  and  Minister  of  War, 
gathered  round  him  a  composite  cabinet  into 
which  entered  such  various  political  ingre- 
dients of  the  liberal-monarchical  factions  as 
Ruiz-Zorrilla,  Martos  (Foreign  Affaii-s),  Ul- 
loa,  Sagasta,  Moret,  Ayala  and  Beranger. 
This  ministry  entered  upon  its  ollicial  Ijeing 
ou  January  4,  1871. 

On  the  13th  General  Cialdini  was  received 
b}' the  King  with  all  the  pomp  and  ceremony 
beiitting  his  high  mission,  and  delivered  into 
His  Majesty's  liands  the  letter  of  Victor 
Emmanuel  accrediting  liim  as  Ambassador 
Extraordinary  to  congratulate  the  new  Sover- 
eign on  liis  accession.  The  general  expressed 
to  His  Majesty  the  sorrow  of  the  Italian  people 
at  losing  a  prince  so  greatly  and  deservedly 
7 


98  THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

beloved,  but  gave  utterance  also  to  the  wide- 
spread conviction  that  the  Prince's  origin 
could  but  strengthen  the  sympathies  and  in- 
terests of  the  two  nations,  already  so  closely 
related  by  ties  of  blood  and  racial  affinities. 

Towards  the  middle  of  February  Queen 
Maria  Victoria  who,  on  account  of  her  recent 
confinement  had,  as  will  be  remembered,  not 
been  able  to  accompany  her  husband,  set  forth 
on  her  journey  to  join  the  King  at  Madrid. 
The  effort  proved,  however,  too  great  for  her 
feeble  condition,  and  by  the  time  Alassio  was 
reached  a  violent  attack  of  fever  obliged  the 
royal  patient  to  again  take  to  her  bed.  The 
Queen's  illness  assumed  so  threatening  an 
aspect  that  little  hope  of  lier  recovery  was 
entertained  and  the  sacrament  was  adminis- 
tered. Victor  Emmanuel  and  various  mem- 
bers of  the  royal  family  hastened  to  the  bed- 
side of  the  invalid,  but  the  exacting  duties  of 
his  position  kept  the  anxious  husband  far 
from  the  side  of  the  wife  he  so  tenderly  loved, 
and  this  enforced  absence  was  perhaps  one  of 
the  bitterest  trials  of  his  brief  career  as  King 
— so  full  of  deception  and  disappointment. 

Three  weeks  after  lier  convalescence  was 
fully  established  Her  Majesty  was  enabled  to 
continue  her  journey  to  Onelia,  thence  to  em- 


Maria  P^ictoria,  Qufnt  of  Spam 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   THRONE.  99 

bark  on  Marcli  8,  only  to  be  tossed  by  tem- 
pestuous seas  and  battered  b}'  a  series  of 
violent  storms  for  ten  mortal  days  until  finally 
tlie  frigate  east  anchor  off  Alicante.  Here 
Amadeus  met  liis  consort  and  escorted  her 
with  their  two  young  sons  to  Madrid. 

The  absorbing  interest  which  now  occupied 
the  public  mind  was  the  election  of  members 
to  the  Cortes  wliich  were  to  meet  on  April  3. 
The  problems  confronting  the  government 
were  numerous  and  serious  ones  essentially 
demanding  a  fusion  of  party  and  personal  in- 
terests with  those  of  the  nation.  For  the  re- 
adjustment of  the  greatly  impaired  finances 
the  cessation  of  the  distracting  political  con- 
flicts still  actively  carried  on  in  the  provinces 
was  imperatively  necessary.  Spain  must 
have  peace  within  her  borders.  The  restora- 
tion of  harmonious  relations  with  the  Holy 
See  was  also  greatly  to  be  desired,  without 
liowever  the  sacrifice  of  the  ecclesiastical  re- 
forms obtained  at  such  great  cost,  and  which 
placed  the  country  on  a  par  with  those  nations 
professing  amongst  their  liberal  institutions 
freedom  of  woi-ship  and  independence  from 
the  t3'ranny  of  the  Church  in  mattei-s  temporal. 
If  Spain  was  to  take  her  place  amongst  tlie 
great  Powers  of  Europe  as  a  liberal  and  consti- 


100        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

tutional  nation,  governed  according  to  the 
ideas  of  the  times,  anarchy  and  rebellion  must 
be  stamped  out,  and  a  fair  field  given  to  the 
representatives  of  the  system  of  government 
chosen  by  her  sons.  The  sequel  of  the  revo- 
lution of  September  demonstrated  that  the 
Spanish  people  did  not  confound  the  monarch- 
ical principle  with  the  causes  which  had  pro- 
duced the  downfall  of  the  late  dynasty,  and 
this  fact  was  still  further  confirmed  by  the 
action  of  the  Constituent  Assembly  and  the 
object  the  Carlists,  or  rebels  as  they  were 
called,  had  in  view.  The  republican  element 
was  as  yet  a  factor  which,  although  it  could 
not  safely  be  overlooked,  was,  however,  no 
serious  menace  to  the  established  govern- 
ment ;  but  the  troublesome  Carlist  following, 
and  the  possibility  of  a  fusion  of  one  or  several 
independent  factions  with  this  party,  caused 
the  ministry  to  anticipate  the  approaching 
elections  with  considerable  apprehension. 
The  result  proclaimed  a  not  insignificant 
ministerial  majority  in  both  houses  of  Parlia- 
ment, and  the  political  atmosphere  seemed 
less  dangerously  charged  with  brewing  storm 
than  had  been  anticipated  when,  on  the  date 
fixed,  Amadeus  opened  the  session  with  a 
speech  impregnated  with  wise  and  concilia- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIIiOyK.        101 

tory  utterances.  Alas  I  If  tlie  opening  cere- 
monies were  characterized  by  calm  and  apathy 
the  brief  lull  was  all  too  soon  to  be  followed 
by  violent  controversy  and  bitter  denunci- 
ation. The  imperfectly  appreciated  rejiubli- 
can  strength  vied  with  the  relentless  ani- 
mosity of  the  Carlistos  in  every  possible  en- 
deavor to  thwart  the  projects  and  aims  of 
the  government  to  attain  dignified  stability 
and  national  prosperity.  Patriotism  was 
thrown  to  the  winds  in  the  wild  attempt  to 
harass  the  "■  foreigner  "  whose  aid  and  counsel 
the  country  had  so  recently  invoked,  and  wlio 
was  so  loyally  struggling  to  reconcile  the 
rigor  necessary  to  quell  illegal  disorder  with 
the  chivalric  interpretation  of  constitution- 
ality characteristic  of  his  House. 

In  1871  the  Spanish  people,  and  by  people 
should  be  understood  not  merely  the  "  plebs  " 
— rural  and  urban — but  the  nation  in  its  com- 
ponent parts,  was  little  prepared  to  compre- 
hend or  appreciate  the  advantages  of  a  lib- 
eral government.  Tliose  in  contact  with  the 
masses  in  the  fields  or  the  factory  ;  those  in 
communion  with  the  middle  cla.sses,  as  well 
as  tliose  intluencing  the  opinions  of  the 
aristocracy,  had  in  their  hands  a  terrible 
weapon  wherewith  to  damn  the  King's  every 


102        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   THRONE. 

endeavor.  Was  lie  not  the  son  of  the  ex- 
communicated despoiler  of  the  High  Priest 
of  Christendom  !  Were  they  not  aware  that 
Pius  IX.  was  a  prisoner  in  his  jialace,  his 
capital  and  liis  territory  wrenched  from  him  ! 
This  influence  cannot  be  over-estimated  in 
a  study  of  the  causes  of  Amadeus's  failure. 
The  opposition  came  from  below  as  well  as 
from  those  adherents  to  the  old  regime,  and 
the  more  liberal  the  institutions  granted,  the 
more  surely  and  quickly  must  the  sap  of 
political-religious  intrigue  rise  through  the 
heart  and  trunk  of  the  Nation — its  Assembly 
— until  it  permeated  the  topmost  branches  of 
the  Administration. 

Any  one  of  the  unsuccessful  foreign  candi- 
dates would  have  shared  the  same  fate,  and 
possibly  in  addition  have  plunged  the  coun- 
try deep  in  bloodshed  and  civil  strife  before 
being  compelled  to  yield.  While  this  is 
undoubtedly  true,  it  is  no  less  a  fact  that  the 
political  events  in  Italy  in  1870,  and  his  con- 
nection with  the  authors  of  them,  handicapped 
the  Italian  prince  to  an  extent  either  little 
suspected,  or  under-estimated,  at  the  time. 
Any  ruler,  foreign  or  native,  brought  to  power 
by  the  leaders  of  the  revolution  of  1868  and 
the  authors  of  the  reforms  which  sprang  there- 


TUB  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  ROSE.        103 

from,  would  luive  bt-eii  held  responsible  by 
the  leacliuiuuy  uiid  ultra  coiiversuUve  parties 
for  the  coldness  existing  with  the  Vatican, 
and  would  undoubtedly,  sooner  or  later,  have 
paid  the  penalty  of  his  temerity  by  being 
forced  either  to  abdicate  or  rescind  the  offen- 
sive measures.  This  being  the  case  the  Holy 
See  could  hardly  be  expected  to  view  with 
complacency  the  possession  of  the  throne  of 
the  most  catholic  monarchy  in  Europe  by  the 
son  of  the  occupant  of  the  Quirinal.  The 
young  prince  was  noted  in  Italy  for  his  broad 
and  liberal  views  ;  and  at  that  moment  neither 
broad  nor  liberal  views  were  looked  upon 
with  favor  in  the  Vatican.  The  Liberal  Pope 
of  18-48  had  long  since  been  transformed  into  a 
prudent  and  wily  diplomatist  who  carefully 
avoided  the  edged  tools  he  had  played  with 
in  his  early  3-ears  ;  and  the  later  Pontiff  who 
was  to  coquette  with  radicalism  w;vs  then  oc- 
cupied in  composing  Latin  verses  in  Perugia. 
Evidences  of  the  vacillation  and  bad  faith 
of  some  of  those  who  had  been  loudest  and 
most  persistent  in  their  appeals  for  his  accept- 
ance of  the  crown  were  thus  early  thrust  upon 
the  young  Sovereign.  It  soon  became  a])par- 
ent  that  he  must  either  allow  himself  to  become 
a   mere  tool    tossed  from    the  grasp  of  one 


104        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

designing  politician  to  another,  to  the  detri- 
ment of  the  best  interests  of  the  nation  whose 
institutions  he  had  sworn  to  safeguard,  or 
pass  beyond  the  spirit,  if  not  the  letter,  of 
the  constitution  he  had  taken  oath  to  defend 
and  uphold.  It  must  be  remembered  that 
from  the  outset  Amadeus  fully  recognized 
the  eventuality  of  his  abdication ;  but  it  would 
be  to  grossly  misunderstand  the  fibre  of  the 
man  to  assume  that  he  had  not  also  deter- 
mined to  make  at  least  a  desperate  struggle  to 
assert  and  uphold  the  majesty  of  his  office,  and 
only  to  yield  when  every  attempt  at  concilia- 
tion had  failed,  and  he  could  clearly  no  longer 
combine  royal  dignity  and  self-respect  with 
the  fulfilment  of  his  constitutional  pledges. 

In  the  opening  pages  of  this  study  some 
idea  of  the  events  which  marked  the  early 
years  of  the  young  prince's  life  has  been 
given,  and  the  writer  has  endeavored  to  lay 
stress  on  the  immense  influence  of  these  in 
the  formation  of  the  character  of  Amadeus. 
From  tenderest  infancy  he  had  witnessed  the 
varying  fortunes  of  the  struggle  for  independ- 
ence and  unity  in  the  land  of  his  birth.  He 
had  assisted  at  the  national  or  parliamentary 
checks,  or  advantages,  which  marked  the 
progressive  policy  of  his  father  and  the  great 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TllliOyK.        105 

ministers  who  sei  vecl  liim.  Defeat  and  dis- 
appointment were  no  stningurs  to  liini  ;  de- 
spair and  humiliation  liad  visited  his  House. 
But  lie  had  had  instilled  into  his  very  nature 
that  reverence  for  the  constitutional  rights 
of  the  people  which  had  in  the  end  carried 
his  father  triumphantly  to  the  leadei-ship  of 
a  great  nation.  Political  trickery,  or  any 
tampering  with  the  spirit  of  the  conditions 
under  which  he  had  assumed  the  great  chaige 
entrusted  to  liim,  was  as  far  removed  from 
his  character  as  the  committal  of  a  dishonest 
action.  Of  doubtful  political  expediency 
there  should  be  none.  He  would  walk 
straight  and  upright  to  the  goal,  and  when 
the  path  was  blocked  with  obstacles  over 
which  he  could  not  constitutionally  pass,  he 
would  turn  neither  to  the  right  nor  to  the 
left :  would  make  no  attempt  to  coerce  the 
desires  of  those  who  had  called  him  to  i)re- 
side  over  their  destinies,  but  with  honor  un- 
scathed abdicate  the  throne  for  whose  mere 
lustre  he  cared  so  little. 

Even  those  most  anxious  to  bring  about  the 
abdication  did  iu>t  withhold  their  admiration 
of  the  disinterestedness  of  the  action,  nor 
deny  the  loyal  and  constant  observance  of  a 
sacred  pledge. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

Opening  of  Parliament. — Speech  from  the  Throne.— The  Serrano 
ministry. — Defeat  of  same  and  formation  of  Zorrilla  cabinet. 
— Visit  of  Italian  Crown  Prince. — Habits  of  Amadeus  in  his 
daily  life  in  Madrid.— First  attempt  upon  his  life.— Tactics  of 
the  secret  police. — Life  in  the  Palace.— Official  and  private 
existence  of  the  royal  couple. — Court  entertainments.— Queen 
Maria  Victoria  ;  her  character,  charities  and  opinions. 

Parliament  opened,  as  has  been  said,  on 
April  third,  in  the  presence  of  the  King,  who 
on  this  occasion  dispensed  with  the  elaborate 
ceremonial  which  had  been  observed  by  his 
predecessors  for  like  functions. 

The  speech  from  the  Throne  was  impreg- 
nated with  a  modesty  amounting  almost  to 
diffidence. 

His    Majesty   assured   his   hearers    of  the 

grateful  sentiments,  which  daily  took  deeper 

root  in  his  soul,  for  the  honor   conferred  upon 

him,  and  of  his  loyal  desire  to  devote  himself 

to  the  difficult  but  glorious  task  which  he  had 

voluntarily  undertaken ;  the  duties  of  which 

he  would  continue  to  fulfil,  he  added,  so  long 
lOG 


TUE  SAClilFICE  OF  A    lllltOSE.         107 

as  lie  possessed  the  confidence  of  the  i;co|ile 
as  expressed  hy  the  voice  of  their  k'f,Ml  rej)re- 
sentatives.  But  never,  he  insisted,  would  he 
impose  liiraself  on  a  reluctant  majority.  He 
had  accepted  the  Crown  only  after  having 
been  convinced  that  his  action  would  in  no 
way  affect  the  peace  of  Europe.  Since  his 
accession  he  had  received  unequivocal  tokens 
of  sympathy  from  the  various  governments 
through  their  di}>lomatic  representatives  ac- 
credited to  his  pei"son. 

The  King  expressed  his  fervent  desire  for 
the  re-establishment  of  cordial  relations  with 
the  Holy  See,  for  to  the  Sovereign  Pontiff  lie, 
as  the  ruler  of  an  essentially  Catholic  nation, 
must  instinctively  look  for  spiritual  guidance 
and  comfort. 

"  When  my  feet  touched  Spanish  soil,"  ex- 
claimed Amadeus,  "  I  determined  to  merge  my 
ideas,  my  sentiments  and  my  interests  with 
those  of  the  Nation  which  elected  me  as  its 
Head,  and  whose  independent  character 
would  never  submit  to  foreign  and  illegiti- 
mate intrigues." 

"  Within  the  constitutional  limitations  I 
shall  govern  with  Spain  and  for  Spain,  through 
the  men,  the  ideas  and  tendencies  wliich  are 
legally  suggested    me   by  public    opinion  as 


108        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   THRONE. 

evinced  by  Parliamentary  majorities — the  true 
regulators  of  constitutional  monarchies.  Con- 
vinced of  your  loyalty,  as  I  am  of  my  own,  I 
confide  to  my  new  country  that  which  I  most 
love  on  earth — my  family.  My  sons  who, 
although  they  first  beheld  the  light  of  day  on 
foreign  soil,  will  have  the  good  fortune  to  re- 
ceive their  first  impressions  of  life  here;  their 
first  language  will  be  Spanish;  their  educa- 
tion will  be  in  accordance  with  the  customs 
of  the  nation  ;  and  from  their  earliest  youth 
they  will  seek  inspiration  in  the  examples  of 
constancy,  disinterestedness  and  patriotism 
which  are  traced  in  the  history  of  Spain  like 
luminous  stars  on  the  eternal  firmament. 
Elected  by  the  voice  of  the  country,  my 
family  and  I  have  come  to  share  your  joys  and 
your  sorrows  alike  ;  to  think  and  feel  as  you 
think  and  feel ;  to  unite,  in  short,  by  im- 
perishable bonds  our  own  fate  with  the  fate 
of  the  people  which  has  confided  to  me  the 
direction  of  its  destinies.  The  task  with 
which  the  Nation  .has  associated  me  is  diffi- 
cult and  glorious;  perliaps  even  beyond  my 
strength,  although  not  without  the  scope  of 
my  endeavor :  but  by  the  help  of  God,  who 
is  witness  to  the  rectitude  of  my  intentions ; 
with  the  concurrence   of  the    Cortes,  which 


Fmmattuel  Philibtrl,  Present  Duke  of  /losta. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIUOSE.        lO'J 

will  always  l)o  my  guide  because  it  expresses 
the  will  of  the  country  ;  and  with  the  aid  of 
all  hononihle  men  whose  co-operation  must 
not  be  denied  me,  I  trust  that  the  united  en- 
deavor will  obtain  as  reward  the  happiness  of 
the  Spanish  People." 

Although  great  things  could  hardly  be  ex- 
pected from  a  Parliament  in  which  the  govern- 
ment majority  did  not  consist  to  any  great 
extent  of  members  of  the  same  party,  yet, 
nevertheless,  it  was  confidently  hoped  that, 
yielding  to  a  mutual  necessity,  Congress 
would  agree  on  such  action  as  might  be 
deemed  expedient  for  the  pressing  linancial 
needs,  and  that  pending  the  adjustment  of 
these  party  politics  would  for  the  nonce  be 
left  in  abeyance. 

The  difticulties  encountered  by  the  new 
regime  were  complicated  at  the  outset  by  the 
knowledge  that  both  in  Valencia  and  Madrid 
the  Carlist  and  republican  factions,  without 
actually  forming  a  coalition,  were,  neverthe- 
less, in  accord  ;  and  by  the  suspicion,  more  or 
less  substantiated  by  facts,  that  many  ofliccrs 
in  the  army  had  dealings  with  the  Carlists, 
which,  although  of  such  subtle  nature  as  to 
defy  detection,  were  cunningly  calculated  to 
embarrass  the  government,  and  sow  the  seeds 


110       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

of  discord  in  the  party  which  had  brought 
the  King  to  power. 

In  spite  of  the  very  moderate  expectations 
founded  on  the  newly  elected  Cortes,  on  ac- 
count of  the  heterogeneous  composition  of 
that  body,  the  friction  between  its  vaiious 
elements  became  apparent  sooner  than  was 
anticipated.  Certain  celebrations  proposed 
in  honor  of  the  pontifical  jubilee  of  Pius  IX. 
gave  rise  in  the  Cortes  to  tumultuous  opposi- 
tion, degenerating  into  acts  of  personal  vio- 
lence, and  which,  spreading  to  the  streets,  oc- 
casioned serious  riots.  Angry  crowds,  incited 
by  agitators  of  the  various  political  parties 
who  eagerly  seized  the  opportunity  of  creat- 
ing disturbances,  paraded  the  streets  making 
hostile  demonstrations. 

To  add  to  the  government's  embarrass- 
ments Senor  Moret  finally  abandoned  his 
portfolio  after  repeated  attempts  to  patch 
up  the  national  finances,  which  he  found  in 
such  lamentable  confusion  that  there  ap- 
peared no  remedy  less  drastic  than  the  suspen- 
sion of  payment  of  interest  on  the  public  debt, 
and  the  retention  of  twenty  per  cent,  on  all 
civil  and  military  salaries. 

Senor  Sagasta  having  been  prevailed  upon, 
much    against   his  will,  to   assume,    ad   in- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUHOyE.        1 1 1 

teriiriy  tlie  baneful  portfolio  of  finance,  the 
Marslial  struggled  on,  vainly  trusting  to  keep 
liis  colleagues  together  by  means  of  temporary 
expedients.  The  discord,  liowever,  rapidly 
increased ;  Martos,  Zorrilla  and  Beranger 
tendered  their  resignations,  and  Mai-shal  Ser- 
rano was  forced  to  admit  to  the  Cortes  on 
July  -20111  that  his  efforts  had  failed.  It  was 
agreed  in  the  Chamber  to  suspend  the  sessions 
pending  the  construction  of  a  new  ministry, 
the  formation  of  which  was  .again  entrusted 
by  the  King  to  Serrano.  The  Marshal,  in 
spite  of  his  recent  discomfiture,  desired  to  re- 
new the  attempt  of  a  ministry  of  conciliation, 
on  the  condition  that  Sagasta  should  form 
part  of  it.  Martos  and  Zorrilla  on  the  con- 
trary would  have  nothing  further  to  do  with 
conciliation  as  understood  by  vague  and  in- 
definite agreements  between  men  of  different 
parties.  They  demanded  a  clear  and  out- 
spoken policy  and  party  action.  Marshal 
Serrano  having  failed  in  his  endeavoi"s  to 
bring  his  late  colleagues  into  accord,  the  King 
commissioned  Sefior  Zorrilla  to  form  a  govern- 
ment. 

A  few  days  later  Zorrilla  and  his  cabinet 
took  oath  before  the  King,  and,  the  Cortes 
having  been    convened,    the  new    Premier, 


112        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

who  had  retained  for  himself  the  direction 
of  the  Ministry  of  the  Interior,  made  his  pro- 
fession of  faith,  in  which  he  declared  that  he 
and  his  colleagues  would  adhere  to  the  prin- 
ciples of  the  old  Progressista  party,  and 
that  their  progamme  would  he  that  of  the 
revolution  of  September,  1868. 

Here  at  least  was  a  clear  and  definite  de- 
claration of  policy.  Here  also  was  a  govern- 
ment composed  of  men  of  the  same  political 
color,  and  which  might  reasonably  be  expected 
to  promise  strength  and  durability.  Yet  in 
less  than  two  months  the  vaunted  fabric  had 
crumbled  to  dust,  and  Amadeus  was  again 
forced  to  confront  the  emergency  he  was  to 
become  so  familiar  with  during  his  short 
reign.  Another  Progressista  cabinet,  with 
Zorrilla  again  at  its  head,  presented  itself 
before  the  Cortes  ;  and  again  the  high-sound- 
ing assurances  of  Concord,  Liberty  and  Prog- 
ress were  heard. 

A  brief  respite  from  the  constant  worry  of 
bickering  politics  was  afforded  Don  Amadeo 
in  August  by  a  visit  from  his  brother  Prince 
Humbert.  On  the  arrival  of  the  Italian 
Crown  Prince  the  brothers  repaired  immedi- 
ately to  the  Escurial,  there  to  enjoy  the  quiet 
of  family  life   during  the   few  days  the    visit 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIIiOyE.        113 

was  to  last.  On  August  twenty-seventh  tlie 
Court  returned  to  Madrid  for  a  grand  official 
and  diplomatic  reception,  and  review  of  eigli- 
teen  thousand  troops,  held  in  lionor  of  the 
visiting  Prince.  On  the  30tli  Prince  Hum- 
bert took  temporary  leave  of  the  King  and 
continued  his  journey  to  Lisbon,  there  to  be 
the  guest  of  his  sister,  Queen  Maria  Pia, 
promising,  however,  to  join  his  brother  on 
his  contemplated  trip  to  the  provinces. 

With  the  exception  of  the  demands  made 
upon  his  time  by  his  political  responsibili- 
ties, wliich  of  necessity  were  often  onerous, 
Amadeus  remained  faithful  in  Madrid  to  the 
habits  he  had  contracted  in  Italy.  He  rose 
at  daybreak  and  went  for  a  walk,  generally 
in  the  ^loro  gardens,  which  extend  between 
the  palace  and  the  river.  This  habit  of  early 
rising,  so  contraiy  to  accepted  traditions 
amongst  the  Spanish  aristocracy,  occasioned 
a  rather  ludicrous  incident  on  the  morning 
after  tlie  King's  arrival  in  Madrid.  At  eight 
o'clock,  lie  having  tlien  been  up  and  at  work 
for  over  two  liouis,  Amadeus  called  for  break- 
fast. The  terrified  major-domo,  stammering 
confused  excuses,  was  liowever  forced  to  ad- 
mit that  nothing  had  as  yet  been  i)repared,  as 
it  was  not  supposed  His  Majesty  would  leave 
8 


114        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

his  apartments  before  eleven.  Nothing 
daunted,  Araadeus  summoned  an  aide-de- 
camp, and  proceeded  on  foot  to  a  neighbor- 
ing caf^  where  he  breakfasted  like  any  other 
good  citizen. 

A  favorite  morning  excursion  was  to  the 
museums.  On  these  occasions  the  King 
crossed  the  city  to  the  Prado  on  foot,  at- 
tended by  a  single  aide-de-camp.  The  serv- 
ants returning  from  their  early  marketing 
would  relate  to  their  mistresses  how  they  had 
met  the  King,  and  almost  brushed  against 
him  with  their  baskets  full  of  vegetables  and 
household  provisions. 

The  democratic  simplicity  of  these  excur- 
sions gave  offence  to  many,  who  maintained 
that  the  monarch  lowered  the  majesty  of  his 
office  in  dispensing  with  the  time-honored 
ceremonial  of  his  predecessors.  The  Carlists 
and  Alfonsinists  sneered  at  the  vagaries  of 
"  King  Maccaroni,"  as  they  contemptuously 
styled  him,  but  all  parties  united  in  consider- 
ing the  proceeding  hazardous  in  the  extreme. 
Nor  were  they  wrong,  for  in  July  an  unsuc- 
cessful attempt  was  made  on  his  life  by  an 
unknown  individual  who  discharged  a  pistol 
at  him  as  he  walked  through  the  streets. 
The  King  was  uninjured,  and  the  incident 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TJinONE.        115 

Beemed  to  iniike  little  impression  on  him; 
it  certainly  did  not  cause  him  to  alter  his 
liabits  or  to  mingle  less  freely  with  his  sub- 
jects. But  the  occurrence  justified  the  anx- 
iet}'  felt  by  those  who  were  charged  with 
His  Majesty's  safety. 

Amadeus  took  a  boyish  delight  in  shaking 
off  the  agents  of  the  secret  police  who  con- 
tinually dogged  his  steps  under  the  pretence 
of  affording  him  protection.  On  one  occasion 
when  leaving  the  cafd-concert  in  the  Buen 
Retiro  the  King  was  jostled  by  some  rough- 
looking  characters,  and  robbed  of  his  watch 
and  purse.  Whether  this  was  really  the 
work  of  criminals,  or  was  perpetrated  by  the 
police  themselves  in  order  to  convince  their 
royal  master  of  the  necessity  of  their  precau- 
tions, still  remains  a  mystery.  At  the  time, 
however,  the  opinion  prevailed  that  the  police 
were  not  altogether  unconnected  with  the 
incident,  especially  as  the  chiefs  had  recently 
rather  over-reached  themselves  in  their  ofticial 
zeal  by  the  recovery  of  a  cigarette  case  sup 
posed  to  have  been  lost,  but  which  in  reality 
liad  never  left  His  Majesty's  possession. 
On  this  memorable  occasion  the  detectives* 
desirous  of  giving  evidence  of  their  efliciency 
but  unable  to  trace  the  missing  property,  had 


116        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

quietly  duplicated  it  and  tiiumpliantly  carried 
their  capture  to  the  palace,  there  to  be  met 
with  the  disconcerthig  information  tliat  the 
lost  cigarette-case  had  been  found  peacefully 
reposing  in  the  pocket  of  one  of  His  Majesty's 
coats  which  had  been  thrown  aside. 

There  was  much  politic  talk  of  confiding 
the  safety  of  His  Majesty's  person  to  the 
natural  courtesy  of  his  subjects,  and  doubtless 
his  free  and  unconstrained  intercourse  with 
the  people  did  much  to  disarm  insult  or  pos- 
sible violence ;  nevertheless,  in  spite  of  the 
rather  ludicrous  incident  above  related,  the 
really  efficient  and  constant  watchfulness  of 
the  police  was  a  safeguard  which  could  ill 
have  been  dispensed  with,  distasteful  though 
it  Avas  to  the  Sovereign  accustomed  to  liberty 
of  action  and  freedom  from  personal  con- 
straint. 

On  his  return  to  the  palace  after  the  morn- 
ing walk  Amadeus  received  the  Captain 
General  and  the  Governor  of  Madrid,  who, 
according  to  ancient  custom,  must  present 
themselves  daily  to  personally  receive  the 
King's  orders  for  the  army  and  police.  Then 
came  the  ministers.  Besides  meeting  the 
cabinet  once  a  week  at  the  council  for  the 
regular  transaction  of  business,  Amadeus  re- 


I  HE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TIIItOXE.        117 

ceived  one  of  its  members  in  turn  e;ich  (l;iy, 
thus  familiarizing  himself  with  the  atYairs  of 
eaeh  sepai~ite  department.  After  the  minis- 
ter had  retired  the  audiences  began.  An 
hour,  more  often  two,  was  daily  consecrated 
to  this  duty.  The  demands  and  petitions 
were  innumerable,  all  tending,  however,  to 
the  same  end  :  subsidies,  pensions,  privileges, 
employment  in  government  service,  requests 
for  decorations  and  the  like.  To  all  the 
King  made  a  practice  of  listening  with 
marked  courtesy  although  the  importunate 
petitioner  must  soon  have  become  aware  of 
the  annoyance  or  boredom  he  was  inflicting 
by  the  wriggling  and  shuflling  of  his  victim, 
one  of  whose  characteristic  peculiarities  was, 
when  nervous  or  excited,  to  stand  leaning  on 
a  chair  throujrh  the  lejjs  of  which  he  would 
twist  and  twine  his  own  long  limbs. 

The  King  and  Queen  generally  lunched 
alone,  having  at  their  table  a  single  Lady  of 
Honor  and  a  Chainberlain.  After  lunch  the 
King  smoked  one  of  those  long,  so-called  Vir- 
ginia cigai-s,  dear  to  the  heart  of  every  Italian 
officer,  and  betook  himself  to  his  study,  there 
to  occupy  himself  with  affaii-s  of  state.  Nor 
was  the  Queen  excluded  from  discussions  on 
mattere  appertaining  to   government :  espe- 


118        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

cially  when  dealing  with  questions  of  differ- 
ences of  opinion  between  the  ministers,  or 
of  reconciliation  between  party  leaders,  Araa- 
deus  sought  her  tactful  advice  and  ready  in- 
telligence. 

The  King  read  many  newspapers,  irre- 
spective of  color  or  opinion :  he  himself 
perused  the  anonymous  epistles  condemning 
him  to  death,  or  those  offering  advice  as  to 
how  the  country  should  be  governed  ;  while 
his  eye  also  scanned  the  numerous  projects  for 
social  renovation  submitted  by  scatter-brained 
enthusiasts,  and  the  cleverly  worded  or 
grossly  insulting  satirical  poetry  fresh  from  the 
venomous  pen  of  some  unknown  foe.  Politi- 
cal criticism  in  the  press  was  to  be  expected, 
but  the  personal  abuse  heaped  upon  the  royal 
head  can  only  find  a  pai'allel  in  the  columns 
of  the  opposition  papers  in  the  United  States 
at  the  time  of  a  Presidential  election.  He 
might  consider  himself  lucky  indeed  when 
it  was  only  his  personal  appearance  which 
caused  dissatisfaction  to  his  subjects  ;  or 
when  fault  was  found  with  his  gait  when 
walking :  or  again  at  his  mode  of  returning 
a  salute.  A  large  portion  of  the  old  Spanish 
nobility  practically  boycotted  the  royal 
couple,  and  those  who  dared  openly  displayed 


THE  SArUlFIVE  OF  A    TUnOSK.         H'J 

their  aveision  by  fiets  of  discourtesy  in  the 
public  streets  und  promenades,  while  in  the 
salons  of  the  aristocracy  the  insidious  war- 
fare of  slander  and  ridicule  Wiis  nightly 
waged.  Outside  a  narrow  circle  in  whicli 
the  brightest  stai-s  were  the  Countess  della 
Alinnia  and  the  Man^uis  de  Ulugares  who 
liad  consented  to  accept  positions  in  the 
royal  household,  and  who  formed  conspicuous 
exceptions,  those  frequenting  the  Court  were 
almost  entirely  officials  and  politicians.  The 
Queen  felt  this  isolation  most  keenly,  while  it 
is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  King,  al- 
though he  never  for  a  moment  departed  from 
his  habitual  reserve,  also  suffered  bitterly 
from  the  scofling  of  those  whose  high  social 
position  should  have  made  them  naturally  the 
staunchest  upholders  of  the  royal  dignity. 

Nearly  every  afternoon  the  King  was  accus- 
tomed to  rido,  followed  at  a  distance  of  fifty 
paces  by  a  single  groom  in  scarlet  livery. 
The  exit  of  llis  Majesty  from  the  palace 
was  heralded  by  a  flourish  of  trumpets  by 
the  guard  as  was  also  his  return.  Beyond 
this  simi)le  formality  all  royal  apanage  was 
dispensed  with,  and  the  good  people  of 
Madrid  looked  in  vain  for  the  brilliant  cav- 
alcade   which    had    clattered    after    the    ex- 


120        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Queen  Isabella  during  her  progress  through 
the  streets  of  her  capital.  Alas  !  discontent 
was  in  the  air,  and  the  democratic  simplicity 
of  the  present  order  gave  as  much  offence  as 
the  extravagant  ostentation  of  the  past.  In 
like  manner  the  modest  apartment  selected 
by  the  King  and  Queen  in  the  huge  palace 
was  in  marked  contrast  to  the  endless  suites 
occupied  by  the  members  of  the  late  dynasty. 
Amadeus  reserved  three  small  rooms  for  his 
personal  use:  a  study,  a  bedroom  and  tiny 
dressing-room.  The  bedroom  opened  on  a 
long  corridor  which  led  to  the  two  rooms  oc- 
cupied by  the  young  princes,  and  to  the 
apartment  of  the  Queen,  which  in  its  turn 
communicated  with  these.  Here  the  family 
life  of  the  royal  couple  was  concentrated, 
the  state  apartments  being  used  on  official 
occasions  only. 

Dinner  parties  were  given  every  Sunday 
at  Court.  To  these  were  invited  generals, 
deputies,  professors,  shining  lights  from  the 
worlds  of  Letters,  Science  and  Art,  diploma- 
tists, and  foreigners  of  high  rank  or  position. 
The  Queen  conversed  with  all,  displa3dng  a 
knowledge  and  culture  far  beyond  the  limits 
generally  assigned  to  feminine  education,  and 
remarkable  both  for  depth  of  perception  and 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUROyE.        121 

accumcy  in  detail.  This  was  due  to  the  care 
of  her  early  training  which  had  been  jealously 
supervised  by  her  mother,  herself  a  great  stu- 
dent and  bibliophile.  Maria  Victoria  had  read 
much  and  deeply,  and  had  divined  life  before 
knowing  it.  The  young  sovereign  possessed 
the  erudition  of  a  German  savant:  in  addition 
to  Latin  and  Greek  she  was  conversant  with 
five  or  six  modern  languages,  and  had  studied 
tlie  higher  mathematics  even  to  the  extent 
of  integral  and  differential  calculus.  Besides 
tliese  rather  austere  accomplishments  the 
Queen  was  an  artist  and  a  musician  of  no 
mean  technical  skill.  Gifted  with  a  rare 
sentiment  for  criticism,  she  was  at  once  a 
sympathetic  listener  and  intelligent  performer. 
With  these  advantages,  together  with  her 
natural  charm  of  face  and  manner,  it  is  little 
wonder  that  the  young  sovereign  captivated 
those  fortunate  enougii  to  be  received  at  the 
palace.  Her  Majesty  spoke  Spanish  fluently 
and  correctly,  and  took  the  deei)est  interest 
in  the  history,  literature,  art  and  national 
customs  of  her  adopted  country.  It  lias  been 
said  of  her  tliat  the  onl}-  thing  needful  to  make 
her  a  real  Spaniard  was  the  desire  to  remain 
in  Spain.  This  desire  Maria  Victoria  never 
professed.     She    had    ascended    the    throne 


122        TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

with  her  husband  almost  under  protest,  and 
merely  because  it  had  been  represented  to 
her  that  duty  lay  in  that  direction.  Writing 
to  a  friend  on  the  eve  of  her  departure  for 
Spain  she  says :  "  We  are  not  going  with  any 
intention  of  imposing  ourselves  upon  the 
country;  and  the  day  on  which  our  labors 
are  proved  vain  we  will  return  the  crown  to 
those  who  gave  it  us." 

After  the  abdication  and  return  to  Italy 
General  Lanza  went  to  Turin  to  confer  with 
Amadeus.  On  his  arrival  at  the  23alace  at 
the  hour  fixed  for  the  audience  the  General 
was  informed  that  the  ex-King  had  been 
unexpectedly  obliged  to  absent  himself,  but 
that  Maria  Victoria,  although  indisposed  and 
confined  to  her  bed,  desired  to  speak  with 
him,  and  requested  he  would  go  to  her.  As 
soon  as  Lanza  entered  her  apartment  the 
Queen  began  speaking  with  great  enthusiasm 
of  the  joy  she  experienced  at  finding  herself 
once  more  in  Italy,  at  rest  concerning  the 
safety  of  her  husband  and  sons,  and  after 
undergoing  such  anxiety  and  terror,  to  feel 
herself  surrounded  by  an  atmosphere  of  peace 
and  domestic  happiness.  Continuing  to  dwell 
on  the  period  spent  in  Spain  she  related  the 
days  of  her  martyrdom  with  such  intensity 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUROSE.        \'l\l 

of  coloring,  such  variety  of  detail  and  warmth 
of  feeling,  that  Lanza  could  only  listen  in 
anuizenient. 

In  his  memoirs,  commenting  on  this  con- 
versation the  General  remarks  :  "  It  was  the 
Mother  and  Wife  tliat  spoke  in  her:  the 
Queen  was  never  manifest,  and  her  judg- 
ments appeared  to  me  often  warped  by  her 
pei-sonal  feelings,  and  consequently  not  always 
just  or  exact." 

Lanza,  who  held  the  opinion  that  Amadeus 
had  too  readily  yielded  to  tlie  impulse  of 
the  moment,  or  in  other  words  had  been  pre- 
mature in  his  abdication,  endeavored  to  argue 
this  point  with  the  ex-Queen,  but  failed  to 
convince  her.  At  last,  moved  by  admiration 
of  the  quick  intelligence  of  his  interlocutor, 
but  yielding  to  the  intensity  of  his  own  con- 
victions, he  gave  utterance  to  the  equivocal 
remark  :  "  What  a  pity  that  with  so  much 
intellect  there  could  not  have  been  combined 
a  little  ambition  I  What  an  influence  such 
would  have  exercised  on  the  mind  of  the 
King !  " 

But  to  return  to  Madrid. 

The  Queen  also  gave  audiences,  although 
on  account  of  her  delicate  health  it  was  not 
possible  for  her  to  do  so  daily.     In  the  pres- 


324       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

ence  of  a  Chamberlain  and  Lady  of  Honor, 
Her  Majesty  received  all  sorts  and  conditions : 
from  the  Court  lady  in  her  silks  and  furs  to 
the  factory  hand,  from  the  wife  of  a  Minister 
of  State  or  a  deputy  in  the  Cortes,  to  the  loud- 
voiced  woman  of  the  people  ;  listening  to  the 
vapid  flattery  of  the  one  and  to  the  long  tales 
of  misery  and  pain  of  the  other;  offering 
advice  or  consolation,  or  more  substantial 
aid,  as  required.  Besides  the  liundred  thou- 
sand francs  devoted  monthly  to  charitable 
purposes,  this  noble  lady  gave  largely  in  all 
directions,  and  it  is  estimated  that  nearly  ten 
millions  of  her  private  fortune  were  thus  dis- 
tributed during  the  two  years  of  her  sojourn 
in  Spain.  With  the  twenty-five  thousand 
francs  allowed  monthly  by  the  State  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  young  Prince  Emmanuel, 
Maria  Victoria  founded  a  School  and  Kinder- 
garten for  the  children  of  washerwomen  who 
during  their  working  hours  were  unable  to 
attend  to  their  offspring.  This  establishment 
was  situated  in  view  of  the  royal  palace. 
There  were  to  be  found  recreation  grounds, 
nurseries  and  a  hospital,  besides  a  staff  of 
teachers,  nurses  and  attendants  to  look  after 
the  wants  of  the  little  ones.  In  addition  Her 
Majesty  founded  an  orphan  asylum :  a  refuge 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIliONE.        1115 

and  school  for  the  children  of  the  woikcia  in 
the  tobacco  factory, and  a  soup  kitchen  in  which 
she  took  a  personal  and  active  part,  supervis- 
ing the  distribution  of  soup,  meat  and  bread 
to  all  the  poor  of  the  capital  ^vho  cared  to 
avail  themselves  of  her  Ixiunty.  To  reach 
those  unfortunates  whose  social  position,  or 
pride,  forbade  their  having  recourse  to  such  a 
public  institution,  the  Queen  employed  a  staff 
of  sisters  of  charity  who  received  from  her 
hands  monthly  thirty  thousand  francs. 

The  organization  of  these  charities  is  all 
the  more  remarkable  when  it  is  remembered 
that  the  royal  couple  remaiued  in  Spain 
barely  two  years. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

Ajnnesty  granted  previous  to  visit  to  provinces.— Royal  visit  to 
Valencia,  Barcelona,  etc.— Meeting  with  Espartero. — Return 
to  Madrid.— Cabinet  crisis.— Election  of  President  of  Cor- 
tes.—Zorrilla  presents  his  resignation.- Demostrations  in 
Madrid. — the  Queen  is  molested  by  crowd. — Carlists  seize  op- 
portunity afforded  by  Zorrilla-Sagasta  controversy  to  renew 
hostilities.— Financial  and  Political  complications. 

Almost  immediately  on  the  departure  of 
Prince  Humbert  for  Portugal  followed  that 
of  Amadeus  on  an  official  visit  to  the  south- 
eastern provinces  of  the  Kingdom. 

During  His  Majesty's  absence  Marshal 
Serrano  was  charged  with  the  safety  of  the 
young  princes  and  of  the  Queen,  who,  owing 
to  slight  indisposition,  was  unable  to  accom- 
pany her  husband. 

Acting  on  the  advice  of  his  counsellors 
the  King  issued  a  proclamation  granting  a 
general  amnesty  for  political  offences  com- 
mitted previous  to  the  31st  of  July  of  the 
preceding   year.      This   sop   thrown   to   the 

malcontents  of  all  classes  would,  it  was  as- 
12G 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUIiONE.        127 

serted,  especially  serve  to  propitiate  the 
Carlists  and  republicans,  many  of  whom  had 
taken  refuge  beyond  the  frontier.  In  spite 
of  this  act  of  clemency  considerable  anxiety 
was  felt  as  to  the  result  of  the  royal  visit  to 
such  hot-beds  of  political  intrigue  as  Valencia 
and  Barcelona,  the  latter  especially  noted 
for  its  turbulent  republican  element  and 
insurrectionary  tendencies.  But  the  young 
sovereign  was  undaunted  by  the  sinister  pre- 
dictions spread  abroad,  and  declared  himself 
determined  to  appear  before  his  subjects  in 
those  commercial  centres  with  the  same  frank 
disregard  of  danger  as  had  been  adopted  in 
the  capital. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  September  second 
the  start  was  made.  The  royal  train,  most 
luxuriously  fitted  up  for  that  period,  con- 
sisted of  six  carriages  communicating  one 
with  the  other,  and  including  reception  saloon, 
boudoir,  bedrooms,  dining-saloon,  kitchen, 
and  acconmiodation  for  the  suite.  A  guard 
of  sixty  men  picked  from  the  ranks  of  tlie 
Cantabria  regiment  accompanied  His  Majesty. 
Valencia  was  the  first  stop  of  importance, 
and  here  the  cordiality  of  the  reception  of- 
fered the  Sovereign  far  surpassed  the  most 
sanguine    anticipations.     It    had    been    an- 


128        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

iiounced  that  His  Majesty  would  visit  the 
Cathedral,  but  on  approaching  that  edifice 
the  quick  eye  of  Amadeus  noticed  that  it 
was  intended  to  slight  the  dignity  of  his 
office  by  refraining  from  the  display  of  ecclesi- 
astical pomp  usual  on  the  visit  of  a  monarch. 
With  ready  tact  the  young  ruler  caused  the 
procession  to  make  a  detour  which  brought 
him  to  the  door  of  the  sacred  shrine  of  Our 
Lady  of  the  Outcasts,  most  highly  venerated 
by  the  inhabitants  of  Valencia.  Making  his 
way  into  the  church  Amadeus  knelt  unosten- 
tatiously amongst  the  humble  worshippers 
who  thronged  the  aisle,  and  on  leaving 
handed  the  gold  watch  he  wore  to  the  verger 
as  an  offering  to  the  shrine  of  the  Virgin. 

This  incident  caused  a  most  favorable  im- 
pression amongst  the  lower  classes  of  the 
population,  and  when  followed  up  by  visits 
to  the  hospitals  and  various  municipal  chari- 
table institutions,  completely  turned  tlie  tide 
of  popular  sentiment. 

It  was,  however,  at  the  bull-ring,  whither 
Amadeus  now  repaired  to  witness  the  skill 
of  Bocanegra  and  the  famous  Lagartijo,  that 
popular  enthusiasm  reached  a  climax.  It  so 
happened  tliat  El  Tato,  a  torero  of  great 
popularit}^  whose  daring  in  the  ring  had  re- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        129 

cently  cost  him  a  leg,  was  seated  in  the 
inuliuuce  sadly  fonleiiiitlatiiig  the  feats  of  his 
former  rivals.  Ainadeus,  heariijtj  of  his 
presence,  immediately  sent  for  the  disabled 
torero,  and,  in  full  view  of  the  seventeen 
thousand  spectators,  warmly  grasped  his  hand 
and  presented  him  with  his  cigar-case.  No 
action  could  have  gone  more  directly  to  a 
Spaniard's  heart.  The  success  of  the  visit 
to  Valencia  w;is  assured. 

The  royal  entry  into  Barcelona  was  wit- 
nessed by  crowds  which  saluted  the  King  re- 
spectfully if  not  enthusiastically  ;  while  the 
official  festivities  were  on  a  scale  worthy  of 
the  importance  of  the  great  industrial  inter- 
ests represented.  A  drenching  i-ain  greeted 
the  visitoi-s  on  their  arrival,  without,  how- 
ever, in  any  way  interfering  with  the  pro- 
gramme. After  a  stay  of  a  few  days  fully  oc- 
cupied with  the  usual  inspection  of  hospitals, 
charitable  institutions,  factories  and  exposi- 
tions, the  King  started  on  a  short  visit  to 
Gerona  and  other  places  of  minor  importance. 

In  spite  of  the  beneficial  effects  anticipated 
by  the  royal  clemency  the  most  stringent 
precautionary  measures  for  the  safety  of  the 
Sovereign  had  everywhere  been  enforced. 
In  towns  where  the  loyalty  of  the  inhabitants 
9 


130        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

was  doubtful  the  garrisons  were  doubled  and 
trebled ;  care  being  taken  that  only  trusted 
troops,  commanded  by  officers  whose  attach- 
ment to  the  monarchy  was  above  suspicion, 
should  be  employed.  Thus  the  journey,  if 
not  a  continual  ovation,  at  least  passed  off 
without  unpleasant  incident,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Saragossa,  where  an  officious  Mayor 
received  His  Majesty  with  a  speech  the  trans- 
parent impertinence  of  which  Don  Ama- 
deus  averted  by  a  quick  and  tactful  answer 
which  turned  the  tables  on  the  over-confi- 
dent official,  who  meekly  followed  in  the 
wake  of  the  triumphal  entry  he  had  warned 
the  Sovereign  not  to  expect. 

On  September  twentieth  Amadeus  re- 
turned to  Barcelona  to  meet  his  brother 
Humbert,  who,  after  leaving  Portugal,  had 
visited  Seville  and  Granada,  and  was  now 
on  his  way  back  to  Italy.  Together  the 
brothers,  on  foot  and  unattended,  explored 
the  town,  entering  the  cafes  like  private 
citizens,  and  mingling  freely  with  the  popu- 
lace. An  expedition  was  also  made  to  the 
famous  monastery  of  Monserrat,  where  a 
magnificent  Te  Deum  was  executed  in  their 
honor,  and  where  the  reception  was  one  of 
marked  sympathy  and  cordiality. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUIiOyE.        131 

On  the  departure  of  the  Ilulian  PriiiLc  the 
return  journey  to  Madrid  was  begun.  Lerida 
and  Saragossa  were  successively  visited,  and 
pains  taken  to  arrange  a  pei"sonal  interview 
at  Logroiio  with  the  aged  Espartero. 

Particular  importance  was  attached  to  the 
meeting  between  tlie  young  Sovereign  and 
this  revered  liero  and  popular  idol,  who  had, 
on  more  than  one  occasion,  held  tlie  destinies 
of  the  nation  in  his  hand,  and  whose  in- 
fluence and  prestige  were  still  immense.  As 
tlie  royal  train  steamed  into  the  gaily  deco- 
rated station  of  Logroiio  the  excitement  was 
intense,  while  every  eye  was  strained  to  catch 
a  glimpse  of  the  meeting  between  the  glori- 
ous veteran  and  his  youthful  Sovereign. 

Espartero  greeted  the  King  with  dignified 
affection,  uttering  the  following  words  of 
welcome  : 

"  Sire  :  Everywliere  the  people  greet  Your 
Majesty  with  patriotic  enthusiasm  because 
they  recognize  in  tlie  young  monarch  the 
most  staunch  upholder  of  the  liberty  and 
independence  of  their  country,  and  are  rt)n- 
vinced  that  if  their  enemies  try  to  destroy 
them.  Your  Majesty,  at  the  head  of  the  army, 
and  the  metropolitan  militia,  will  confound 
and  scatter  them,  guiding  us  always  in  the 


132        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

path  of  honor  and  glory.  Sire  :  My  failing 
health  did  not  permit  me  to  have  the  honor 
of  personally  congratulating  Your  Majesty 
and  your  August  Consort  in  Madrid  on  your 
accession  to  the  throne  of  Saint  Ferdinand. 
To-day  I  reiterate  that  I  loyally  welcome  Your 
Majesty  as  King  of  Spain,  on  whom  this  su- 
preme dignity  has  been  conferred  by  the 
national  will.  Sire  :  In  this  town  I  own  a 
modest  dwelling  which  I  now  offer  to  Your 
Majesty,  begging  you  to  honor  it  with  your 
presence.  My  wife  makes  Your  Majesty  the 
same  offer,  and  begs  me  to  respectfully  salute 
you." 

The  royal  visit  was  attended  with  unquali- 
fied popular  enthusiasm  from  start  to  finish. 
Crowds  arrived  from  neighboring  towns  and 
villages,  drawn  to  Logroiio  as  much  by  curios- 
ity to  see  the  popular  hero  as  to  welcome  the 
new  King,  but  according  to  both  unstinted 
applause  and  affectionate  consideration. 

A  few  months  later  in  commemoration  of 
the  first  anniversary  of  his  accession  Amadeus 
added  to  the  dignities  bestowed  upon  Espar- 
tero,  the  title  of  Prince  of  Vergara,  in 
memory  of  the  peace  concluded  between  the 
liberals  and  Carlists. 

On  October  first,  Amadeus  again  entered 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUllOyE.        133 

his  capitiil,  just  in  time  to  assist  at  the 
ministerial  crisis  brought  about  by  the  dis- 
cussion concerning  the  election  of  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies. 

Although  Zorrilla  and  S.agastJi  had  been 
close  political  friends,  the  latter  soon  broke 
away  from  tlie  partisans  of  his  former  all}', 
who  were  too  inclined  to  radicalism  to  coin- 
cide with  tlie  views  he  then  held.  Sefior 
Zorrilla,  who  owed  his  power  to  the  aid  of 
the  radicals,  and  was  especially  under  obli- 
gations to  Sefior  Rivero,  would  gladly  have 
seen  the  latter  in  the  President's  chair.  His 
adversaries,  however,  wished  the  place  for 
Sagasta  and  were  prepared  to  fight  for  their 
opinions.  The  movement  had  already  as- 
sumed such  importance  that  it  was  felt  that 
should  Sagasta  be  elected  it  would  be  tan- 
tamount to  a  ministerial  defeat.  Espartero 
was  called  upon  to  attempt  to  patch  up  the 
differences  existing  between  the  leaders,  but 
refused  to  mix  himself  up  in  the  affair.  As 
had  been  anticipated  the  government  candi- 
date was  defeated  in  the  session  of  October 
third  by  a  vote  of  113  to  1*23,  and  Sagasta, 
was  duly  proclaimed  President  of  the  Cham- 
ber. Zorrilla  then  and  there  declared  his 
inability  to  carry  on  the  government,  and  he 


134       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

and  his  colleagues  presented  their  resigna- 
tions to  the  King.  Although  the  resigna- 
tions were  accepted  by  Amadeus,  many  of 
Senor  Zorrilla's  most  fervent  partisans  were 
not  willing  to  acknowledge  themselves 
beaten,  and  attempted  to  foment  a  public 
demonstration  which  was  to  manifest  the  un- 
shaken popular  faith  in  Zorrilla,  and  the 
desire  to  have  him  and  his  colleagues  con- 
tinue in  office.  About  a  thousand  adherents 
were  enlisted  for  this  purpose,  who  paraded 
the  streets  making  special  disturbance  be- 
neath the  palace  windows,  loudly  calling  on 
the  King  to  show  himself.  Amadeus  wisely 
refrained  from  lending  himself  to  any  popu- 
lar manifestation,  although  he  strenuously 
endeavored  to  enable  the  conflicting  parties 
to  arrive  at  some  understanding.  Appeal 
was  again  made  to  Espartero  to  use  his  very 
considerable  influence,  but  the  old  statesman 
piteously  begged  to  be  left  in  peace. 

Meanwhile  a  tumultuous  rabble  surrounded 
the  Queen's  carriage  as  she  was  returning 
from  a  drive,  and  loudly  bawled:  "Deatli 
to  Sagasta  !  Long  live  the  radical  ministry  ! 
Zorrilla  or  a  radical  republic  ! " 

Her  Majesty,  greatly  alarmed,  was  forced  to 
make  some  reply,  which  she  did  with  quiet 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TURONE.        l.i.O 

dignity  ;  but  the  emotion  and  nervous  strain 
were  such  that  she  fainted  on  entering  the 
pahice. 

Finally  Admiral  Malcampo,  one  of  Prim's 
old  lieutenants,  was  prevailed  upon  to  at- 
tempt the  formation  of  a  cabinet,  and  actually 
succeeded,  with  the  exercise  of  great  prudence 
and  tact,  in  gathering  around  him  colleagues 
who  were  acceptable  to  the  Zorrillani  and 
capable  of  working  with  both  parties.  The 
new  ministry  took  oath  before  the  King  on 
October  sixth. 

The  closing  months  of  this  first  year  of  the 
reign  of  Amadeus  were  fraught  with  many 
dangei"S  and  trials,  not  the  least  of  whicli  was 
the  impetus  given  by  tlie  Zorrilla-Sagasta 
controversy  to  the  Carlist  insurrection.  In 
vain  were  membei-s  of  this  party  imprisoned, 
and  the  death  penalty  threatened  against 
those  caught  in  arms.  A  threat  rarely  car- 
ried out,  as  reprisals  were  feared  on  the  many 
military  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  rebels, 
and  it  being  moreover  the  policy  of  the  gov- 
ernment to  show  clemency  wlienever  prac- 
ticable. A  state  of  siege  was  jn-oclaimed  in 
all  the  provinces  most  contaminated,  and  mil- 
itary opemtions  strenuously  pui-sued.  Don 
Carlos  himself  rarely  appeared  in  the  tielcl, 


136        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

preferring  the  prudent  security  of  the  French 
frontier.  Battles  there  were  none :  the  tactics 
of  the  Carlists  being  those  of  guerilla  war- 
fare. In  vain  did  the  government  troops 
endeaver  to  engage  the  enemy:  the  bands 
melted  away  on  the  approach  of  the  regulars, 
only  to  reform  after  rapid  forced  marches,  and 
harass  their  flank,  or  cleverly  lead  their  de- 
tachments into  ambush.  In  some  instances 
the  promise  of  free  pardon  led  rebel  chiefs  to 
lay  down  their  arms  and  disband  their  men, 
but  the  vengeance  wreaked  upon  such  by 
late  comrades  was  so  terrible  that  few  dared 
avail  themselves  of  the  terms  offered. 

Meanwhile  the  financial  situation  grew 
daily  more  complicated,  while  the  jealousies 
and  friction  in  the  Cortes  made  any  radical 
or  permanent  amelioration  impossible. 

Under  these  conditions,  although  the  word 
failure  was  not  yet  uttered  aloud,  the  first 
year  of  the  reign  closed  with  a  very  general 
feeling  of  uneasiness,  intensified  in  Court 
circles  by  a  presentiment  of  greater  evils  to 
come. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

Marshal  Serrano  appointed  Commander  in  Chief.— Convention 
of  Amorevieta. — (leneral  Sickles'  despatches  to  his  Govem- 
ment.— Spanish  political  outKxjk.— The  Munarchy  and  its  ef- 
fect on  the  treasury.— Amadeus  refuses  to  sanction  extreme 
mea.'^urea.- Resignation  of  Serrano  cabinet.— Dissolution  of 
Cortes. — Cuban  insurrection.- Radical  ministry  accepts  of- 
fice.—Proposed  reforms  and  economies. 

The  year  1872,  which  was  to  prove  so  event- 
ful, opened  quietly  enough. 

On  January  fust,  the  King  listened  to  the 
optimistic  assurances  of  liis  ministei"s,  and 
responded  to  the  congratulatory  addresses  of 
deputations  from  both  Houses  of  Parliament. 
Neverthless  there  seemed  little  enough  sub- 
ject for  congratulation  by  those  who  reviewed 
the  political  situation  disp;u>sionatfly  and 
with  undei"standing.  The  country  was  on 
the  brink  of  bankruptcy  :  the  hold  of  the 
government  over  the  Cortes  was  gradually 
slipping  away  ;  while  the  Carlist  insurrection, 
far  from  being  quelled,  was  fiercer  and  bolder 

than  ever. 

137 


138        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

In  April  His  Majesty  nominated  Marshal 
Serrano  Commander  in  Chief  of  the  troops 
charged  with  the  duty  of  repressing  the 
growing  insurrection  :  an  appointment  which 
resulted  in  the  much-commented  conven- 
tion of  Amorevieta.  According  to  the  stip- 
ulations of  this  extraordinary  document  not 
only  was  a  general  amnesty  proclaimed 
for  those  insurgents  Avho  should  lay  down 
their  arms,  but  the  officers  of  the  regular 
army  who  had  deserted  their  colors  and 
passed  over  to  the  enemy  were  to  be  reinstated 
in  the  rank  they  had  previously  held.  A  vote 
of  censure  in  the  Cortes  caused  the  fall  of 
the  Sagasta  ministry  on  May  27,  and  Marshal 
Serrano,  in  view  of  the  dissatisfaction  his 
measure  produced,  was  constrained  to  resign, 
not  only  his  military  command,  but  also  the 
presidency  of  the  council  of  ministers,  both 
of  which  charges  he  however  speedily  re- 
sumed, yielding,  we  are  told,  to  the  pressure 
brought  to  bear  on  him  by  the  King  and  his 
former  colleagues. 

With  singularly  accurate  prognostication 
General  Sickles,  then  American  Minister  to 
Spain,  observes  in  his  despatch  to  his  govern- 
ment, dated  Madrid,  June  8,1872:  "The 
new  cabinet  takes  office  in  the  presence  of  the 


I 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   IIIROS E.        13'J 

most  critical  situation  yet  confronted  by  the 
present  dynasty.  The  King  has  unfortu- 
nately alienated  the  frien<lship  of  the  party 
that  placed  him  on  the  throne.  The  various 
elements  of  the  opposition,  re-enforced  by  this 
defection  of  the  radicals  under  Zorrilla,  be- 
come bolder  in  their  demands  every  day.  The 
Carlists  are  still  in  the  field  in  great  numbers. 
It  is  true  that  several  bands  availed  them- 
selves of  the  generous  terms  of  surrender 
granted  by  Marshal  Serrano  at  Amorevieta, 
but  the  rising  is  by  no  means  pacificated  even 
in  tlie  Pyrenees,  and  it  is  said  to  be  taking 
serious  proportions  in  Catalonia.  The  repu1>- 
licans  are  kept  tranquil  by  the  firm  attitude 
of  their  leaders,  who  are  understood,  however, 
onl}'  to  await  a  more  favorable  moment  for  a 
hostile  demonstration.  The  radical  chief, 
Mr.  Zorrilla,  has  retired  from  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies,  and  renounced  the  parliamentary 
leadei-ship  of  the  progressista  democrats,  to 
which  he  succeeded  on  the  death  of  General 
Prim.  .  .  .  The  indications  at  this  moment 
incline  nje  to  the  opinion  that  the  present  dy- 
nasty has  seen  its  best  days.  It  will  be  prol>- 
ably  succeeded  before  long  by  a  provisional 
government,  in  wliich  the  republicans,  largely 
re-enforced  from  the  ranks  of  the  radicals,  will 


140        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

contend  with  the  partisans  of  the  young 
Prince  Alfonso  for  supremacy.  If  Marshal 
Serrano  should  be  reconciled  to  the  old  dy- 
nasty by  the  offer  of  the  regency  during  the 
minority  of  Alfonso,  or  if  he  were  satisfied 
with  the  concession  of  the  regency  to  his 
friend  the  Duke  of  Montpensier,  the  uncle  of 
the  Prince,  such  an  arrangement  might  hold 
out  a  fair  promise  of  success  ;  nevertheless  it 
cannot  be  doubted  that  the  republicans  have 
much  to  justify  their  anticipated  triumph. 
The  failure  of  the  monarchical  parties  to 
satisfy  the  exigencies  of  the  country,  or  even 
the  requirements  of  a  successful  party  organi- 
zation ;  the  prevailing  belief  in  the  necessity 
of  reforms  which  can  only  be  effected  by  a 
revolution  more  thorough  than  that  of  1868  ; 
the  apparent  incompatability  between  the 
democratic  constitution  adopted  in  1869,  rep- 
resenting the  advanced  ideas  of  this  epoch,  and 
the  monarchy  ingrafted  on  it  as  a  concession 
to  Spanish  traditions ;  the  profound  disap- 
pointment of  the  liberal  party  in  the  results 
of  their  effort  to  reconcile  the  throne  with  a 
government  essentially  popular  and  free  out- 
side of  the  executive  department ;  the  ina- 
bility of  the  country  to  maintain  tlie  enormous 
expenditure  entailed  upon  it  by  the  monarch- 


THE  SACIilFICE  OF  A  Til  ROSE.        Ill 

ical  establishment,  and  its  accessories  in  tho 
Army,  Clmivli,  and  Civil  list ;  and  hust,  not 
least,  the  stability  of  the  popular  situation 
represented  in  France  by  Monsieur  Thiers — 
these,  and  other  considerations  I  need  not 
mention,  support  the  views  of  those  who  pre- 
dict tliat  the  successor  of  Amadous  may  Ije  a 
President  chosen  by  the  Spanish  People." 

''  The  suffraq^es  of  the  people  of  this  country 
are  divided  mainly  between  the  Carlists,  tlie 
radicals,  and  the  republicans.  The  lirst  is 
the  party  of  tradition  and  reaction.  In  the 
rural  portions  of  Spain  it  is  especially  strong, 
and  it  counts  on  the  support  of  the  larger 
part  of  the  clergy.  The  towns  are  nearly  all 
radical  or  republican.  Outside  of  the  army 
and  navy,  and  a  circle  of  clever  politicians 
supported  by  a  goodly  number  of  pei^sons  in 
office  or  on  the  pension  list,  there  is  no  con- 
siderable popular  strength  Ixilonging  to  the 
conservative  party  led  by  Mai-shal  Serrano, 
The  late  dynasty  has  few  advocates  outside 
of  a  fraction  of  the  aristocracy  which  has 
little  influence  in  Spanish  politics.  It  is  said, 
however,  that  several  battalions  of  the  army 
have  been  gained  over  to  the  cause  of  tlio 
Prince  Alfonso  by  means  often  found  effect- 
ual in  the  Spanish  military  service. 


142       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

"  If  we  pass  beyond  the  frontier,  it  is  easy 
to  see  that  France  takes  little  pains  to  conceal 
the  indifference  with  which  she  resfards  the 
fortunes  of  the  present  dj'-nasty.  The  alli- 
ance understood  to  exist  between  the  Kingf  of 
Italy  and  the  German  Emperor  is  a  sufficient 
explanation  of  this  coolness,  without  assum- 
ing" that  France  desires  a  republican  neigh- 
bor. Apart  from  the  German  sympathies 
of  the  reigning  house,  it  is  perhaps  more  in 
accord  with  England  than  any  of  the  other 
Powers,  as  j^ou  must  have  observed  from  the 
hesitation  of  the  British  cabinet  to  second  our 
earnest  appeals  to  Spain  for  the  abolition  of 
slavery  and  for  a  more  humane  colonial 
policy." 

Although  General  Sickles,  with  a  clear  po- 
litical insight  rare  even  in  a  trained  diplomacy, 
proved  himself  in  several  instances  a  reliable 
prophet,  exception  must  be  taken  to  the  state- 
ment concerning  "  the  inability  of  the  country 
to  maintain  the  enormous  expenditure  entailed 
upon  it  by  the  monarchical  establishment, 
and  its  accessories  in  the  army,  church  and 
civil  list."  The  expenditure  for  the  array 
must  have  continued  no  matter  under  what 
form  of  government ;  Amadeus  could  cer- 
tainly not  be   held   accountable  for  the  ex- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TIIROyE.        143 

penses  entailed  1)\-  a  Cliurch  established  cent- 
uries l)efoie  his  advent ;  the  amount  fixed 
for  the  civil  list  by  the  Delegation  which  of- 
fered the  crown  to  the  Prince  at  Florence 
was  six  million  pesetiis  (a  little  over  a  million 
of  dollai-s).  When  the  first  instalment  of  the 
civil  list  came  due,  on  theai-rival  of  Amadeus 
in  Spain,  the  King  exclaimed  :  "  Give  it  to 
the  school-mastei"s  whose  salaries  have  not 
been  paid  for  fifteen  months  !  " 

We  have  seen  the  extreme  simj)licity  of 
the  Court  life  ;  no  president  could  have  al> 
stained  more  completely  from  ostentation  or 
display.  On  the  advent  of  the  Italian  couple 
the  national  luiances  were  in  a  lamentable 
condition,  and  if  circumstances  over  which 
he  could  have  no  possible  control  obliged  the 
King  to  leave  them  in  the  same  deploiable 
state,  it  was  certainly  not  his  pei-sonal  expen- 
diture, or  the  cost  of  the  maintenance  of  the 
Court,  which  was  to  blame.  Spain  had  been 
for  two  years  before  the  Prince's  election  to 
the  Throne  passing  through  a  revolution — 
alway  an  expensive  luxury,  in  many  cimca  a 
ruinous  one — while  for  the  two  years  lie 
remained  at  the  head  of  the  government  rev- 
olution continued  to  drain  the  Treasuiy.  It 
may  be  contended  that  it  was  the  presence  of 


144        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUEOXE. 

a  foreigner  on  the  throne  which  caused  the 
continuance  of  the  revolution.  But  suppos- 
ing a  republic  to  have  been  established  in 
1870,  or  a  regency  proclaimed  until  such  time 
as  Alfonso  should  be  of  age  to  rule,  is  it  likely 
that  the  Carlist  insurrection  would  not  have 
taken  place  merely  because  the  government 
went  under  a  different  name  ?  Hardly.  It 
is  easy  enough  for  those  reviewing  the  politi- 
cal situation  of  1870  to  1873  in  the  light  of 
events  which  have  transpired  in  the  last 
twenty  years,  to  moralize  as  to  what  might 
have  been.  But  we  most  not  overlook  the 
fact  that  at  the  time  of  the  accession  of  Ama- 
deus  popular  sentiment,  as  expressed  in  the 
Constituent  Cortes,  was  dead  against  the 
return  of  the  Spanish  Bourbons.  The  events 
of  1868  were  too  recent,  and  political  passions 
ran  too  high,  to  attach  more  than  a  senti- 
mental value  to  tlie  prophecy  which  placed 
a  descendant  of  Isabella  on  the  Throne. 
Although  then  as  now  the  advocates  for  the 
republic  raved  and  stormed,  time  has  proved 
that  Spain  could  give  no  guarantee  of  stabil- 
ity for  that  form  of  government,  i)robably 
the  most  intricate,  certainly  the  most  beset 
with  peril  to  an  emotional  race  whose 
susceptible     hereditary     })ride     forms     the 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        145 

very  keynote  of  their  national  character- 
istics. 

Far  from  benefiting  in  a  pecuniary  sense 
from  their  exalted  station,  the  representatives 
of  the  House  of  Savoy  left  millions  of  their 
private  fortune  in  Spain.  If  the  honor  con- 
ferred upon  Amadeus  and  his  Consort  was 
great,  so  was  the  expense  attendant  there- 
on. 

Writing  a  few  days  later,  the  American 
diplomatist  informs  his  government  that : 

"  The  cabinet  of  Marshal  Serrano  left  office 
after  the  very  brief  tenure,  even  in  Spain,  of 
seven  days.  It  appears  that,  in  view  of  the 
extremely  critical  state  of  affairs  reported  in 
my  No.  383,  the  President  of  the  Council  of 
Ministers  advised  the  King  that  it  was  neces- 
sary to  suspend  those  articles  of  the  consti- 
tution guaranteeing  personal  rights.  His 
majesty  declined  to  sanction  this  measure, 
and  declared  that  when  he  found  he  could 
no  longer  rule  in  accordance  with  the  consti- 
tution he  had  sworn  to  maintain,  he  would 
resign  his  office.  The  announcement  of  this 
decision  to  the  Council  of  Ministers  over 
which  His  Majesty  presided  was  followed 
by  their  resignation  on  the  spot.  The  King 
did  not  hesitate  a  moment  in  accepting  the 
zo 


146        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

situation  thus  suddenly  presented,  and,  until 
an  hour  afterward,  when  Admiral  Topete,  the 
minister  of  marine,  surprised  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies  with  a  brief  statement  of  what  had 
occurred,  no  intimation  of  a  cabinet  crisis 
had  transpired." 

"  Remarkable  as  Spain  is  for  political 
changes,  nobody  was  prepared  for  the  trans- 
formation that  followed.  The  King  went 
through  the  customary  form  of  consulting  the 
presiding  officers  of  the  two  Houses  of  Con- 
gress, both  of  whom  belong  to  the  conserv- 
ative party,  and,  putting  aside  their  advice, 
immediately  sent  for  Lieutenant-General 
Fernandez  de  Cordova,  the  leader  of  the 
radicals  since  the  recent  withdrawal  of  Mr. 
Ruiz-Zorrilla  from  politics,  who  was  asked 
to  form  a  cabinet." 

After  consulting  with  the  leaders  of  the 
radical  party  General  de  Cordova  agreed  to 
attempt  to  carry  on  the  government  provided 
Senor  Zorrilla  be  named  President  of  the 
Council,  and  that  the  existing  Cortes,  chosen 
under  the  auspices  of  Senor  Sagasta,  should 
be  dissolved  and  new  elections  ordered. 
These  arrangements  having  been  accepted 
by  the  Crown,  the  ministry  was  definitely 
constituted. 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUEONE.        147 

"It  must  be  admitted,  states  General  Sick- 
les, in  the  same  despatch  from  which  the  above 
has  been  quoted,  that  this  ministry  takes 
office  in  the  presence  of  the  gravest  difficul- 
ties. On  the  first  of  next  month  the  half- 
yearly  interest  on  the  public  debt,  amount- 
ing in  round  numbers  to  twenty-five  millions 
of  dollars,  becomes  due,  and  there  is  not  a 
dollar  in  the  treasury  to  pay  it.  The  finan- 
cial situation  in  Cuba  is  so  critical  that  it 
causes  even  more  disquietude  than  the  in- 
surrection, which  remains  defiant  at  the  close 
of  the  fourth  campaign.  The  Carlists'  revolt 
holds  out  in  the  north  against  an  army  of 
twenty-two  thousand  regular  troops.  General 
Morion,  lately  assigned  to  the  command  of 
these  forces,  is  the  third  officer  who  has  filled 
that  post  within  three  months.  In  Catalonia, 
called  the  New  England  of  Spain,  for  the 
thrift,  industr}^  and  independence  of  its  in- 
habitants, the  Carlists'  movement  is  combin- 
ing so  rapidly  that  General  Baldrich,  lately 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  forces  oper- 
ating in  that  principality,  demands  a  re-en- 
forcement of  no  less  than  ten  thousand  men. 
The  Duke  of  Montpensier  announces  to-day 
his  reconciliation  with  the  Spanish  Bourbons, 
represented  by  his  nephew  the  young  Prince 


148        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIBONE. 

Alfonso,  and  this  publication  is  accompa- 
nied by  a  manifesto  signed  by  two  hundred 
and  thirty  generals,  deputies,  senators  and 
grandees  of  Spain,  in  favor  of  the  Prince, 
with  Montpensier  as  regent.  And  although 
the  republican  leaders  still  restrain,  the  im- 
patience of  the  great  body  of  that  party, 
professing  a  purpose  to  pause  awhile  longer, 
at  least  until  the  struggle  between  the  several 
monarchical  elements  becomes  yet  more  pro- 
nounced, there  is,  nevertheless,  a  numerous 
body  of  republicans  following  the  counsels 
of  the  '  Igualdad '  and  the  '  Combate,'  two 
of  the  most  popular  journals  of  that  party, 
who  insist  on  taking  arms  and  trying  their 
fortunes  in  the  civil  war  that  seems  unhap- 
pily to  be  inaugurated."  ..."  It  remains 
to  be  seen  whether  the  radical  ministry,  sum- 
moned at  the  eleventh  hour  to  the  councils 
of  the  King,  can  deal  with  a  situation  so 
grave,  and  for  which  they  need  not  only 
statesmen,  but  military  talent  of  no  common 
order.  The  main  current  of  public  opinion 
runs  in  their  favor.  The  prestige  of  the 
Crown  is  once  more  on  their  side.  They 
lose  no  time  in  taking  advantage  of  an  op- 
portunity afforded  by  the  resignation  of  nearly 
all  the  incumbents  of  the  principal  offices  to 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  RONE.        149 

fill  the  vacant  places  with  their  partisans, 
thus  securing  the  large  and  profitable  patron- 
age of  the  Spanish  Government.  They 
promise,  through  their  newspaper  organs,  to 
put  in  operation  at  once  a  series  of  reforms, 
embracing  a  large  reduction  of  expenditures, 
the  suppression  of  useless  offices,  the  separa- 
tion of  Church  and  State,  the  abolition  of 
conscription  for  the  regular  army,  trial  by 
jury,  the  emancipation  of  slavery,  and  the 
extension  of  the  Spanish  constitution  to  the 
colonies.  Whether  these  promises  will  be 
kept,  whether,  if  fulfilled,  the  resistance  such 
a  development  of  the  programme  of  the  revo- 
lution of  1868  must  encounter  will  be  over- 
come by  the  support  it  should  bring  to  the 
party  that  has  the  courage  and  the  constancy 
to  undertake  it  in  earnest,  I  shall  not  vent- 
ure to  predict." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

Attempt  on  the  lives  of  Amadeus  and  Maria  Victoria.— Circum- 
stances of  the  at taelc.— Amadeus  informs  Victor  Emmanuel. 
— The  Queen's  apprehensions. — Question  of  abolition  of 
slavery  in  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico.— Feeling  for  and  against. 
—The  Government's  pledges.— Di.scussion  begins  in  Cortes.— 
Formation  of  the  League. — Defection  of  former  adherents. 
—General  Sickles  reports.— Castelar  to  the  rescue. 

For  some  time  past  Amadeus  had  received 
warning  that  a  plot  was  rife  for  a  fresh  at- 
tempt upon  his  life,  and  it  was  rumored 
that  the  night  of  July  eighteenth  had  been 
selected  for  the  perpetration  of  some  outrage. 
Nevertheless  the  King  refused  to  alter  in  any 
degree  his  usual  habits,  and  resolved  to  spend 
that  evening  in  the  society  of  his  subjects. 
Whether  the  decision  was  born  of  his  inherent 
contempt  of  danger,  or  from  the  conviction 
that  it  especially  behoved  him  to  show  him- 
self to  his  people  at  a  time  when  such  ru- 
mors were  in  circulation,  who  shall  say  !  It 
would  appear,  however,  that  on  this  occasion 
Amadeus  did  not  place  much  faith  in  the 

warnings  of  a  police  he  had  ample  reason  to 
150 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        151 

believe  officious,  or  give  credence  to  the  ex- 
istence of  any  serious  danger,  since  he  allowed 
the  Queen  to  accompany  him. 

Their  Majesties  spent  the  hot,  close,  even- 
ing listening  to  the  concert  in  the  public 
gardens  of  the  Buen  Ritiro,  one  of  Madrid's 
most  famous  pleasure-grounds.  At  midnight, 
on  the  close  of  the  concert,  the  homeward 
drive  was  begun  along  the  route  where,  on 
account  of  the  evil  reports  abroad,  constables 
had  been  stationed  at  intervals  sufficiently 
apart  to  avoid  the  suggestion  that  special  pre- 
cautions had  been  deemed  necessary. 

As  the  royal  carriage  proceeded  at  a  rapid 
pace  up  the  via  del  Arenal,  a  broad,  modern 
thoroughfare,  a  public  vehicle,  adopting  the 
same  tactics  as  those  which  had  been  em- 
ployed in  the  assassination  of  General  Prim, 
attempted  to  impede  its  progress  by  driving 
at  riofht  angles  across  the  street,  and  fouling 
the  Court  equipage.  Fortunately,  liowever, 
the  King's  coachman  was  able  to  knock  the 
cab-driver  from  his  box  before  the  wheels  of 
the  two  vehicles  became  locked.  At  the  same 
moment  six  or  seven  shots  were  fired  from 
the  midst  of  a  group  of  idlers  standing  on  the 
corner.  The  King  sprang  to  his  feet  at  the 
first  detonation,  shouting : 


152        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TEBONE. 

"  Here  is  the  King.  Fire  at  him,  not  at 
the  others  !  " 

The  aide-de-camp,  seated  in  front  of  Their 
Majesties,  courageously  threw  himself  before 
the  Queen,  interposing  his  body  between 
Her  Majesty  and  the  direction  from  whence 
the  shots  were  fired. 

By  a  miracle  none  of  the  occupants  of  the 
carriage  were  touched,  although  one  of  the 
horses  was  wounded  and  the  carriage  itself 
riddled  with  bullets.  The  postilion  im- 
mediately whipped  up  his  maddened  beasts 
to  full  gallop,  guiding  them  in  the  direction 
of  the  palace. 

Meanwhile  the  police  closed  in  on  the 
band  of  would-be  assassins  who  defended 
themselves  with  revolvers.  Crowds  rapidly 
assembled  and,  while  impeding  the  operations 
of  the  police,  facilitated  the  escape  of  many 
of  those  implicated  in  the  plot.  Two  were 
arrested  on  the  spot;  a  third  killed  while 
desperately  attempting  to  cut  his  way 
through.  During  the  night  some  twenty 
arrests  were  made,  amongst  the  most  notable 
of  which  was  that  of  a  certain  Dudascal, 
the  ex-chief  of  an  unsavory  political  associa- 
tion. 

The  indignation  of   the  populace    at    the 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        153 

dastardly  attempt  was  general  and  wide- 
spread. Angry  crowds  demanded  that  the 
prisoners  be  given  into  their  hands  in  order 
tliat  summary  justice  might  be  meted  out  to 
them.  Frightened  and  excited  officials 
flocked  to  the  palace  where  they  huddled 
together  in  the  antechambers  exchanging 
vivid  and  grossly  exaggerated  accounts  of 
the  occurrence.  Senor  Zorilla  was  amongst 
the  first  to  arrive,  and  was  at  once  ushered 
into  the  presence  of  the  King.  In  spite  of  the 
tr3'ing  ordeal  just  passed  through,  Amadeus 
appeared  perfectly  calm  and  collected  as  he 
quietly  related  the  circumstances  of  the  at- 
tack, and  gave  orders  concerning  the  measures 
he  desired  carried  out.  His  first  thought  was 
for  his  father,  and  the  desire  to  spare  him 
unnecessary  anxiety  should  exaggerated  ac- 
counts of  the  attempted  assassination  first 
reach  him.  Accordingly  the  following  some- 
what laconic  telegram  was  immediately  de- 
spatched to  the  Italian  Court : 

"  I  inform  Your  jMajesty  that  this  evening 
we  were  objects  of  an  outrage.  Thanks  to  God 
are  absolutely  unhurt.  Amadeus. 

"  Madrid,  July  18, 
"  1  :  24  A.  M." 


154        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

This  message  reached  Victor  Emmanuel 
while  ou  one  of  his  favorite  hunting  expedi- 
tions in  the  mountains  above  Valsavaranche, 
near  Aosta.  Rapidly  descending  to  the  nearest 
encampment  to  which  the  telegraph  wires  had 
been  carried  for  his  convenience,  the  King, 
in  spite  of  his  terrible  anxiety,  forwarded 
congratulations  and  words  of  encouragement 
to  his  son ;  at  the  same  time  urging  him  to 
loyally  persevere  in  the  task  he  had  under- 
taken, and  to  show  to  the  world  that  a  prince 
of  the  House  of  Savoy,  at  any  cost,  and  re- 
gardless of  personal  peril,  would  pursue  the 
aim  in  view  without  swerving  a  hair's 
breadth  from  his  constitutional  obligations. 

The  following  morning  Amadeus  might 
have  been  seen  walking  without  escort 
through  the  Madrid  streets  as  if  he  were  as 
free  from  worry  or  danger  as  the  meanest  of 
his  subjects. 

The  Queen,  however,  did  not  so  readily 
recover  from  the  recent  shock,  or  close  her 
eyes  to  the  peril  of  their  position.  Her 
Majesty's  life  was  one  of  continual  dread  for 
the  safety  of  her  husband  and  those  most 
dear  to  lier.  Each  time  Amadeus  left  the 
palace  she  suffered  torments  of  a[)prehension 
lest  he  should  not  enter  it  as^ain  alive. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        155 

"  Alas  ! "  the  poor  lady  exclaimed  to  one 
of  lier  intimate  friends  shortly  after  the  July 
outrage,  "all  here  have  the  right  to  com- 
plain except  ourselves.  We  must  bear  all  in 
silence."  Her  discouragement  and  mental 
anxiety  added  in  no  small  degree  to  her  con- 
sort's distaste  for  a  task,  the  ultimate  accom- 
plishment of  which  became  daily  more  doubt- 
ful. 

Amadeus  was  not  the  man  to  allow 
questions  of  personal  safety  to  distract  his 
mind  from  public  affairs.  Amongst  tlie  ques- 
tions to  which  he  had  given  especial  attention, 
and  the  one  which  most  intensely  interested 
him,  was  the  emancipation  of  slavery  in  the 
islands  of  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico.  For  many 
months  this  problem,  bristling  with  the  con- 
flicting elements  of  vested  interest,  deep- 
rooted  custom,  humanity  and  political  in- 
trigue, had  been  occupying  the  sessions  of 
the  Cortes.  Tlie  Government  was  pledged 
to  reforms  colonial  and  domestic  ;  but  the 
difficulty  lay  in  the  mode  and  period  of  their 
accomplishment. 

In  the  autumn  of  1872  the  question  had 
reached  an  acute  stage  demanding  prompt 
solution.  The  members  of  the  cabinet  were 
agreed  in  principle  but  divided  in  form — three 


156       THE  SACBIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

being  for  gradual  and  five  for  the  immediate 
abolishment  of  slavery.  It  was  desired  to 
immediately  introduce  in  Porto  Rico  the  abo- 
lition of  slavery  as  well  as  certain  civil  and 
municipal  reforms,  the  result  of  engagements 
contracted  by  the  radical  party  with  the 
public  opinion  of  Spain,  the  peaceful  con- 
dition of  the  island  rendering  it  feasible ; 
and  it  was  moreover  deemed  that  this  action 
would  demonstrate  the  future  policy  of  the 
radical  party  in  Cuba  as  soon  as  the  pacifica- 
tion of  the  latter — then  in  the  midst  of  insur- 
rection— should  have  been  accomplished. 
On  August  5  Amadeus  had  signed  at  San 
Sebastian  regulations  dealing  with  the 
emancipation  law  in  both  islands,  but  the 
political  situation  made  it  inexpedient  to  then 
press  the  matter  before  the  Cortes.  The  act 
calling  out  forty  thousand  men  for  military 
service  by  conscription  was  causing  consider- 
able discontent.  Although  the  army  and 
navy  had  heretofore  been  supplied  in  this  way, 
the  measure  now  provoked  unusual  ojDposi- 
tion,  and  aroused  some  of  the  malcontents  in 
Andalusia  to  acts  of  open  hostility.  Taken 
in  conjunction  with  the  firm  stand  made  by 
the  Carlists  and  the  inability  of  the  govern- 
ment troops  to  do  more  than  hold  the  forces 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       157 

of  the  Pretender  in  check,  as  well  as  with  the 
iusurrection  in  Cuba  which  demanded  con- 
tinual reinforcements  from  the  motlier  coun- 
try for  its  suppression,  the  new  movement 
might  well  create  serious  embarrassment  to 
the  Crown. 

On  November  30  a  ministerial  crisis  was 
narrowly  averted.  A  majority  of  the  min- 
isters had  voted  for  immediate  abolition 
of  slavery  in  Porto  Rico,  a  resolution  the 
minority  could  not  accept.  In  view  of  the 
existing  military  and  political  situation,  and 
the  necessity  of  completing  the  pending  con- 
scription, it  was  decided  that  the  resignation  of 
the  Minister  of  War  could  not  then  be  accept- 
ed, while  for  reasons  of  equal  gi-avit}-  it  was 
desirable  that  the  Minister  of  Finance  should 
await  final  action  on  his  budget.  Under 
these  circumstances  it  seemed  expedient  to 
delay  the  presentation  to  the  Cortes  of  the 
project  of  the  law  for  immediate  emancipation. 
On  the  other  hand,  delay  might  mean  defeat. 
Irreconcilable  differences  between  Senor 
Zorrilla  and  his  supporters  in  Congress  were 
imminent,  these  alienations  were  said  to  be 
the  result  of  the  excessive  deference  shown 
by  the  President  of  the  Council  to  palace  in- 
fluences.    The  President  of  the  Cortes  him- 


158        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

self  only  gave  reluctant  and  half-hearted 
support  to  the  Premier,  and  that  only  from 
a  sense  of  personal  obligation,  he  having  been 
largely  instrumental  in  persuading  Senor 
Zorrilla,  in  the  previous  June,  to  renounce 
his  intention  of  abandoning  political  life,  and 
deciding  him  to  accept  the  King's  invitation 
to  form  a  radical  ministry. 

Yet,  in  spite  of  the  growing  conviction  that 
neither  the  ministry,  or  even  the  throne,  could 
long  resist  the  current  setting  against  both, 
the  issue  had  to  be  squarely  faced,  and  those 
in  sympathy  with  the  Government  prepared 
for  war  to  the  knife. 

The  crisis  was  precipitated  by  Senor  Cisa, 
a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  who 
rose  in  his  seat  on  December  ninth  to  ask  for 
information  concerning  the  report  that  the 
Government  had  authorized  the  sale  of  slaves 
taken  from  the  Cuban  insurgents,  and  of 
such  as  were  not  indispensable  for  the  main- 
tenance of  embargoed  estates.  Although  the 
Colonial  minister  denied  the  truth  of  the 
assertion,  and  gave  satisfactory  evidence  as 
to  the  true  nature  of  the  transaction  which  had 
given  rise  to  the  rumor,  the  ball  once  set 
rolling,  the  enemies  of  the  Government's  pol- 
icy were  not  slow  to  take  advantage  of  the 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       159 

opportunity  offered.  A  league  was  formed 
to  defeat  what  was  described  as  the  terrible 
dangers  which  threatened  the  national  in- 
tegrity in  the  colonies,  through  the  reckless 
projects  of  reform  the  Government  had  insti- 
tuted. Such  men  as  the  Duke  de  la  Torre, 
Admiral  Topete,  Seiior  Sagasta,  Romero 
Robledo,  Ayala,  Balagver  and  others  who, 
as  members  of  previous  cabinets,  had  de- 
clared themselves  in  favor  of  the  very 
measures  of  colonial  reform  now  announced 
by  Seiior  Zorrilla's  administration,  gave  proof 
of  the  most  unqualified  inconsistency  by  now 
joining  the  league  formed  for  their  defeat. 

The  "Imparcial"  of  December  16,  1872, 
reproducing  extracts  from  the  reply  to  the 
speech  from  the  Throne,  read  in  the  Cham- 
ber on  May  24,  1871,  and  signed  bj-  all  the 
names  above  quoted,  soundly  rates  the  own- 
ers thereof. 

The  passage  referred  to  reads  as  follows  : 
"  The  civil  war  that  to-day  rages  in  Cuba 
is  a  fatal  legacy  of  the  old  regime,  under 
which  rancorous  passions  fermented  and  pre- 
pared the  way  for  an.  outburst ;  but  the  Con- 
gress of  Deputies  shares  with  Your  Majesty 
the  hope  that  it  may  be  speedily  terminated. 
The  firmness  of  the  Government,  the  patriot- 


160        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

ism,  valor,  and  endurance  of  the  navy,  the 
army,  and  the  volunteers,  the  skill  of  their 
chiefs,  and  the  continued  earnestness  of  the 
whole  nation,  will  all  contribute  to  this  end, 
when  joined  to  the  conviction  that  must  at 
last  reach  the  minds  of  the  rebels  that  by 
their  submission  they  will  attain  liberties 
they  seek  in  vain  to  win  by  force.  The  re- 
sort to  this  only  hinders  the  fulfilment  of  the 
promises  of  the  revolution,  the  coynplete  realiza- 
tion of  which  will  doubtless  not  be  much 
longer  deferred  by  Congress  in  the  other  great 
Spanish  Antilla,  where  peace  has  not  been 
disturbed,  and  where  the  full  enjoyment  of 
political  rights  and  the  abolition  of  Slavery 
cannot  exert  a  disturbing  influence." 

As  far  as  the  reported  address  is  concerned, 
it  should  be  remembered  that  during  the 
whole  course  of  the  debate  thereon,  the  prop- 
osition of  the  committee  with  respect  to 
colonial  reforms  was  in  no  manner  wliatever 
impugned  by  the  conservatives.  The  Carlists 
and  Moderados  alone  denied  that  the  Cuban 
war  was  "  a  fatal  legacy  of  the  old  regime." 
One  hundred  and  sixty-four  deputies  signed 
the  address :  eighty-five  conservatives  who 
now  defended  the  opposite  of  what  they  voted 
for,  and  seventy-nine  radicals  who  now  were 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        161 

simply  fulfilling  what  they  then  offered  to 
do.  "It  is  therefore  demonstrated,"  con- 
tinues the  "  Imparcial,"  "and  demonstrated  to 
conviction,  by  a  simple  reading  of  the  forego- 
ing extracts,  that  the  conservatives  of  to-day 
do  not  follow  the  same  conduct  or  defend  the 
same  principles  touching  the  concrete  ques- 
tion of  the  colonies,  as  they  followed  and 
defended  in  the  months  of  May  and  June, 
1871.  .  .  .  Either  one  of  two  things.  Either 
the  conservatives  di'afted,  voted,  and  sup- 
ported the  paragraph  from  the  address  which 
we  have  quoted  because  they  thought  it  laid 
down  the  most  patriotic  course  in  the  colonies, 
or  they  prepared  it,  voted  for  it,  and  defended 
it,  believing  the  contrary,  and  secretly  resolv- 
ing not  to  put  it  in  practice." 

The  American  Minister,  reporting  these 
events  to  his  government,  writes :  "...  It 
has  seldom  happened  in  the  history  of  Spanish 
colonial  administration  that  a  cabinet  has  so 
boldly  confronted  an  organized  and  powerful 
resistance  to  colonial  reform.  It  is  not  too 
much  to  say  that  during  the  past  three  weeks 
all  Spain  has  been  moved  by  the  agitation 
got  up  by  the  partisans  of  the  old  colonial 
regime.  The  opposition  has  employed  every 
resource  and   tried  all   means  to  baffle  and 


162        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

intimidate  the  government.  All  the  reac- 
tionary parties  have  rivalled  each  other  in 
cr^dng  '  Danger  to  Spanish  unity ! '  "  Our 
colonies  are  lost ! '  '  Treason  in  the  palace  ! ' 
Meetings  have  been  held  in  all  the  principal 
towns,  under  the  auspices  of  societies  inter- 
ested in  the  trade  with  the  colonies.  Agents 
of  the  slaveholders  in  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico 
have  been  busy  in  all  kinds  of  appliances 
intended  to  gain  over  or  silence  the  friends 
of  emancipation.  A  formidable  combination 
of  newspapers,  comprising  five-sixths  of  the 
journals  in  the  capital,  and  many  in  the  prov- 
inces, have  become  the  clamorous  organs 
of  the  slaveholders.  A  shower  of  petitions, 
letters  and  telegrams  from  all  parts  of  the 
country  is  represented  as  an  outburst  of 
popular  feeling  against  reform.  From  Cuba 
comes  the  announcement,  by  cable,  that 
seventy  thousand  volunteers  unite  in  the 
demand  that  no  reforms  be  granted  to  Porto 
Rico  while  an  insurgent  survives  in  Cuba. 
The  leaders  of  all  the  opposition  parties, 
except  the  republicans,  have  met  and  formed 
a  'league'  to  defend  the  national  domain. 
And  finally,  on  Wednesday  night  last,  the 
11th  instant,  the  capital  was  made  the  scene 
of  an  armed  demonstration  in  the  streets,  the 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        163 

insurgents  crying,  '  Down  witli  the  filibus- 
terers  ! '  and  firing  on  the  police  and  the  troops, 
several  of  whom  were  killed.  One  of  the 
bands  attacked  the  carriage  of  the  Prime 
Minister,  in  which  he  was  supposed  to  be 
driving,  and  mortally  wounded  a  lackey 
alongside  of  the  coachman,  the  occupant 
of  the  coach,  a  deputy,  narrowly  escaping. 
This  outbreak  lasted  several  hours,  and  was 
not  quelled  until  a  good  many  of  the  rioters 
were  shot  or  bayoneted.  An  attempt  was 
made  to  give  this  seditious  movement  the 
appearance  of  '  a  republican  rising ; '  but 
the  instantaneous  and  indignant  denuncia- 
tion of  the  act  by  all  the  republican  chiefs, 
and  the  circumstances  that  the  prisoners 
taken  and  those  who  fell  in  the  struggle  with 
the  police  and  the  troops  were  clothed  in 
rags  and  yet  had  their  pockets  well  filled 
with  money,  the  obvious  price  of  their  service, 
quickly  betrayed  the  real  origin  of  the  out- 
rage. The  appearance  of  the  first  of  the 
series  of  the  promised  reforms  in  the  face  of 
so  much  opposition  and  in  defiance  of  threats 
and  force,  has  exasperated  while  it  has  disap- 
pointed the  '  league.'  Agitation  is  renewed 
with  unshaken  determination  and  zeal.  The 
next   demonstration   is  to   be  made   in  the 


lt)4        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Cortes,  and  another  at  the  palace  is  to  follow. 
.  .  .  TJnder  all  these  circumstances,  in  pres- 
ence of  a  resistance  not  unlike  that  en- 
countered by  Charles  the  Fifth  when  he 
undertook  to  restrain  the  usurpations  and 
greed  of  his  viceroys  in  America.  I  cannot 
but  applaud  the  firmness  and  dignity  so  far 
shown  by  His  Majesty's  Government  in  deal- 
ing with  the  difficult  questions  of  colonial 
reform  on  a  basis  consistent  with  justice  and 
the  provisions  of  the  Spanish  constitution." 

In  spite  of  the  tremendous  opposition  and 
pressure  exercised  by  the  "  league  "  Amadeus 
was  firm  in  his  resolve  to  support  his  min- 
isters to  the  utmost  limit  of  his  constitutional 
powers,  and  in  this  again  disappointed  the 
members  of  the  opposition,  who  confidently 
believed  the  King  would  yield  when  the 
magnitude  of  tlie  movement  became  apparent. 

A  new  force,  however,  coming  from  an  un- 
expected quarter,  now  appeared  in  the  ranks 
of  the  abolitionists.  Emilio  Castelar  assumed 
on  this  occasion  the  attitude  of  an  ally  of  the 
Government,  and  threw  the  weight  of  his 
magnificent  eloquence  in  the  scale. 

General  Sickles  reports  that  many  min- 
isterial adherents  hesitated  to  follow  the 
Government  in  their  radical  colonial  policy, 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THUONE.       165 

and  that  the  slavery  party  boasted  tliat  as  many 
as  ninety  ministerialists  would  either  dodge 
the  vote  or  side  with  the  opposition  when  the 
appeal  to  the  Chambers  was  made.  Castelar, 
therefore,  while  satisfying  the  exigencies  of 
the  republican  leadership,  must  take  ground 
on  which  he  could  rally  all  the  liberals  of  the 
Chamber — monarchists  and  republicans.  This 
he  did  in  a  masterly  manner,  scoring  an  im- 
mense parliamentary  triumph.  "  The  orator 
carried  the  whole  house  with  him,"  writes 
General  Sickles.  "  If  here  and  there  a  few 
yet  lingered  in  doubt,  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
tribunes  and  the  applause  of  the  Chamber 
swept  them  along  with  the  torrent  of  feeling 
set  in  motion  by  this  incomparable  speaker." 

Tlie  result  was  gall  and  wormwood  to  the 
"  league." 

In  deference  to  the  usual  form  of  proced- 
ure the  Minister  of  State  was  the  last  to  speak, 
and  when  he  rose  it  was  merely  to  give  ut- 
terance to  the  following  graceful  tribute : 
"  The  deoate  is  closed.  Senor  Castelar  has 
spoken  the  last  word — the  slaves  in  Porto  Rico 
are  already  free.  The  bill  the  Government 
will  bring  in  can  only  give  legal  sanction  and 
form  to  the  inspired  utterance  of  the  world's 
Cfreatest  orator." 


CHAPTER  X. 

Dissensions  in  the  cabinet.— Zorrilla's  statements  concerning 
alleged  foreign  influences.— Castelar's  views  on  same.— Bill 
for  emancipation  laid  before  Cortes.— The  Government's 
scheme  for  same.— Condition  of  Porto  Rico. — The  King's 
position  on  subject  of  emancipation.— Royal  decree  of  De- 
cember as. — Criticism  on  political  situation. — Possibilities  of- 
fered Amadeus  on  his  accession. — Dangers  and  pitfalls  tn 
his  path. — Causes  of  the  fall  of  his  dynasty. 

As  had  been  anticipated  the  debate  cost 
the  Government  the  resignations  of  the  Min- 
isters of  the  Colonies  and  of  Finance,  who 
•were  not  prepared  to  follow  their  colleagues 
on  ground  of  so  treacherous  a  nature.  Tlie 
Minister  of  War,  however,  although  not  fully 
in  accord  with  his  colleagues,  agreed  to  retain 
his  portfolio  temporarily  pending  the  accom- 
plishment of  certain  military  reforms. 

In  announcing  these  resignations  to  the 
Senate  Senor  Zorrilla  stated :  "  I  could  do 
nothing  else  than  go  to  His  Majesty  the  King 
and  explain  the  situation  of  the  cabinet  to 
him,  and  it  was  equally  my  duty,  although 
His  Majesty  was  cognizant  of  the  question 
l66 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        1G7 

from  the  first,  to  set  before  liim  the  full 
gravity  of  the  issue  and  the  responsibility 
that  would  rest  on  any  government  that 
might  decide  it.  I  went  to  confer  with  His 
Majesty  at  noon  yesterday,  and  told  him  that 
a  cabinet  council  was  convened  for  nine 
o'clock  that  night,  and  that  if,  at  that  hour, 
I  had  no  commands  from  him  in  a  conti-ary 
sense  to  that  in  which  I  thought  the  crisis 
should  be  settled,  I  would,  on  the  following 
day,  lay  before  him  the  resignations  of  those 
ministers  who  were  not  in  accord  with  the  ma- 
jority of  the  cabinet,  replacing  them  with 
proper  substitutes.  I  had  the  honor  and  the 
satisfaction  to  hear  from  His  JNIajesty's  lips 
how  great  was  his  regret  that  a  new  crisis  had 
arisen ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  1  had  the  pleas- 
ure to  hear  that  in  the  divergence  of  views 
common  to  all  parties,  while  esteeming  all  opin- 
ions as  sincere,  he  chose  the  most  liberal  and 
the  most  humane ;  and  His  Majesty  charged 
me  that  whatever  reforms  should  be  attempted 
should  be  the  work  of  the  Parliament ;  that 
the  glory  of  the  reforms  should  belong  to 
Parliament,  while  the  Government  should 
bear  whatever  responsibility  might  result. 

Senor  Zorrilla  then  proceeded  to  give  em- 
phatic  denial   to    the    accusations   brought 


168        THE  SAGBIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

against  the  Government  that  the  cabinets  of 
Rome,  Berlin  and  England  used  their  influ- 
ence against  the  legitimate  interests  of  Spain. 
The  day  was  past,  the  Minister  urged,  when 
foreign  powers  could  say  to  Spanish  Ambas- 
sadors that  they  merely  represented  the 
Queen's  personal  wishes.  He  acknowledged 
the  reforms  were  approved  in  certain  high 
quarters,  and  undoubtedly  the  English,  Ital- 
ian, and  other  governments  were  inter- 
ested in  wiping  out  the  stain  of  slavery  ;  but 
it  was  preposterous  to  allege  that  any  for- 
eign government  had  attempted  to  exercise 
pressure  or  influence  on  the  "  indomitable 
Spanish  nation."  It  must  be  recollected  that 
the  Government  at  present  merely  proposed 
the  abolition  of  slavery  in  Porto  Rico :  in 
Cuba  nothing  could  be  done  except  answer 
the  voice  of  the  muskets  by  the  roar  of  can- 
non. The  Government's  colonial  policy  was 
based  on  this  distinction ;  for  Cuba,  where 
there  was  war,  soldiers  and  money  ;  for  Porto 
Rico,  where  there  was  peace,  laws  and  reforms. 
The  reforms  granted  to  Porto  Rico  would  un- 
doubtedly influence  the  situation  in  Cuba  to 
the  advantage  of  the  Government,  and  tend 
to  end  the  war. 

It  was  well  known  in  political  circles  that 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        169 

the  United  States  Government  lost  no  oppor- 
tunity of  advancing  the  cause  of  emancipation 
in  the  West  Indies,  while  it  was,  moreover, 
freely  asserted  that  the  United  States  Minis- 
ter at  Madrid  held  pledges  from  the  Zorrilla 
cabinet  that  reforms,  at  least  as  far  as  Porto 
Rico  was  concerned,  should  be  speedily  under- 
taken. The  President  of  the  Cortes  himself 
was  aware  of  the  pressure  brought  to  bear 
by  the  American  representative,  and  what  is 
more  approved  of  it.  Seiior  Rivero  con- 
sidered the  radical  ministry  pledged  to  pro- 
ceed with  the  reforms  in  Porto  Rico,  not  only 
in  the  eyes  of  their  country,  but  in  those  of 
the  civilized  world. 

In  his  speech  on  the  same  subject  on]\Iarch 
21,  1873,  Senor  Castelar  admitted  that  the 
slavery  question  was,  in  reality,  an  interna- 
tional question.  "  But,"  he  continued,  "  not- 
withstanding that  it  is  an  international  ques- 
tion, at  the  time  it  was  brought  up  by  the  Zor- 
rilla cabinet  it  was  not,  and  had  not  been,  the 
ground  of  any  foreign  representations  what- 
ever. Its  presentation  by  that  cabinet  was 
a  free  and  spontaneous  act,  requested  or  de- 
manded by  no  outside  Power.  "  Yet,  the  ora- 
tor proceeds  to  state  in  the  same  speech, 
*' frankness,  which    in  such   matters   is    the 


170        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THROJSE. 

best  policy,  leads  me  to  say  that  all,  abso- 
lutely all,  the  cabinets  of  Spain  have  been 
approached  by  England.  There  has  not  been 
a  single  session  of  the  English  Parliament 
that  has  not  found  fault  with  our  adminis- 
tration in  Cuba,  nor  a  single  English  minis- 
ter who  has  not  preferred  some  claim  against 
us." 

It  is  inconceivable  that  Senor  Castelar 
should  at  that  time  have  been  ignorant  of  the 
nature  of  the  confidences  exchanged  between 
Senor  Zorrilla  and  the  United  States  Minister 
in  regard  to  the  free  institutions  to  be  ex- 
tended to  the  Spanish  possessions  in  the  West 
Indies.  Senor  Castelar  himself  publicly 
stated  on  another  occasion  *  that,  in  the 
question  of  the  abolition  of  slavery,  it  was 
necessary  to  tolerate  the  expression,  on  the 
part  of  the  United  States,  of  their  opinion 
and  of  some  suggestions,  "  because  this  ques- 
tion is  one  of  an  international  and  human- 
itarian character." 

The  vacancies  in  the  Cabinet,  caused  by  the 
resignations  of  the  Ministers  of  the  Colonies 
and  of  Finance,  were  filled  by  men  thoroughly 
in  accord  with  their  colleagues  and  with  the 
Government  majority  in  the  Cortes,  and  both 
*  "  La  Epoca,"  Madrid,  May  4,  1873. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       171 

Chambers  accepted,   by  decisive   majorities, 
the  proposed  colonial  policy. 

It  being  advisable  that  no  time  be  lost,  on 
Christmas  Eve  the  Colonial  Minister  pre- 
sented to  the  Chamber  the  bill  for  the  imme- 
diate emancipation  of  the  slaves  in  Porto 
Rico,  reading  the  following  royal  decree,  and 
the  preamble  and  bill  to  which  it  referred : 

"  In  accord  with  the  advice  of  the  Council 
of  Ministers,  I  hereby  authorize  the  Minister 
of  the  Colonies  to  submit  to  the  deliberation 
of  the  Cortes  the  following  bill  for  the  im- 
mediate abolition  of  slavery  in  the  Island  of 
Porto  Rico. 

"  Given  in  the  Palace,  the  twenty-third  day 
of  December,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and 
seventy-two.  Amadeo. 

"  The  Minister  of  the  Colonies 
"  Tomas  Maria  Mosquera." 

After  reading  the  preamble  to  the  bill,  in 
which  it  is  deplored  that  the  insensate  ob- 
stinacy of  a  few  rebels  does  not  allow  of  the 
granting  of  the  same  inestimable  boon  to 
Cuba,  with  the  modifications  that  would  neces- 
sarily be  demanded  in  view  of  the  different 
organizations  of  the  system  of  labor  in  the  two 


172        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUnONE. 

islands,  the  different  density  of  their  popula- 
tion, the  enormous  inequality  in  the  number 
of  their  slaves,  and  other  fundamental  differ- 
ences in  their  social  status :  the  minister  adds 
that  he  esteems,  as  the  greatest  of  his  life,  the 
honor  he  now  has  in  submitting  the  bill  to 
the  consideration  of  the  Cortes. 

The  Government  scheme  provided  for  the 
total  and  permanent  abolition  of  slavery  iu 
the  province  of  Porto  Rico :  the  slaves  to 
be  "  de  facto"  free  at  the  expiration  of  four 
months  from  the  date  of  the  publication  of 
the  law  in  the  official  Gazette  of  that  province. 
A  commission  composed  of  the  superior  civil 
Governor  of  Porto  Rico,  as  chairman,  the 
financial  Intendente  of  the  province,  the  At- 
torney-general of  the  audiencia,  three  persons 
named  by  the  Provincial  Assembly,  and  three 
others  chosen  by  the  largest  slave-owners  in 
the  island,  was  to  inquire  into  the  amount 
of  the  indemnification  for  the  value  of  the 
liberated  slaves — such  indemnity  to  be  paid 
within  four  months  of  the  publication  of  the 
law.  Of  the  amount  fixed  by  way  of  indem- 
nification, eighty  per  cent,  was  to  be  delivered 
to  the  owners  of  the  slaves  emancipated,  half 
at  the  charge  of  the  State  and  the  other  half 
at  the  charge  of  the  province  of  Porto  Rico, 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   THRONE.        173 

the  remaining  twenty  per  cent,  being  at  the 
charge  of  the  owners  themselves. 

Porto  Rico's  record  was  loyal.  She  had 
resisted  the  secession  movement  of  Latin 
America  in  1822,  and  liad  fought  for  Spanish 
integrity  in  the  war  of  Santo  Domingo.  Up 
to  1837  she  had  had  the  same  laws  and  munici- 
pal government  as  tlie  Peninsula.  The  desire 
of  the  island  was  for  the  emancipation  of  her 
slaves.  When  consulted  in  1866  for  the  first 
time  as  to  her  needs  she  ranked  first  amongst 
them  abolition,  and  since  that  period  her 
deputies  had  continually  clamored  for  it.  In 
this  they  liad  been  ably  seconded  by  their 
constituents  who,  dissatisfied  with  the  in- 
complete law  of  1870,  had  voluntarily  freed 
many  of  their  slaves.  The  island  was  conse- 
quently ripe  for  the  radical  change  contem- 
plated by  the  present  Government,  and  the 
dangers  attending  sudden  political  or  social 
reforms  were  reduced  to  a  minimum.  Oppo- 
sition there  must  necessarily  be,  for  a  cer- 
tain number  of  planters  still  clung  to  the  old- 
fashioned,  economical  theories,  and  saw  in 
the  liberation  of  their  slaves  the  ruin  of  their 
industrial  interests.  But  it  was  confidently 
asserted  by  the  Porto  Rican  deputies  that 
the  proposed  measures  would  encounter  but 


174        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

few  obstacles,  while  they  would  be  hailed 
with  enthusiasm  by  the  vast  majority.  The 
enthusiasm  and  determination  of  the  drafters 
and  supporters  of  the  bill,  together  with  its 
wise  and  moderate  context,  made  it  appear 
certain  that,  even  in  the  teeth  of  the  hurricane 
its  discussion  raised,  it  would,  at  no  distant 
date,  become  law.  Prudent  but  unscrupu- 
lous slave-owners  in  Porto  Rico,  in  view  of 
tlie  emancipation  they  had  reason  to  believe 
at  hand,  now  began  shipping  their  slaves 
to  Cuba,  where  it  was  hoped  the  disturbed 
political  conditions  might  still  long  afford 
a  market  for  their  wares.  Attention  was 
quickly  called  to  this  transportation,  and  in 
the  Cortes  it  was  denounced  as  a  violation  of 
the  laws,  an  appeal  being  made  for  its  sup- 
pression. 

Up  to  the  moment  of  the  introduction  of 
the  bill,  accompanied  by  the  royal  decree,  the 
members  of  the  "league"  had  cherished  the 
hope  that  the  King  would  hesitate  in  giving 
his  support  to  the  Cabinet  pledged  to  the 
fulfilment  of  a  measure,  the  very  discussion 
of  which  had  so  aroused  the  country.  That 
the  King  desired  the  total  abolition  of  slavery 
throughout  his  realm  none  doubted.  But 
would  he  dare  face  the  consequences  of  either 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TJIROyE.        175 

failure  or  success :  consequences  equally  por- 
tentous in  either  event !  The  "  league  "  con- 
tained members  of  former  cabinets  ;  men  who 
had  enjoyed  the  confidence  of  His  Majesty ; 
and  these  former  ministers  of  the  Crown  did 
not  hesitate  to  give  countenance  to  the  ex- 
pectation that  the  sovereign  might  still,  in 
the  face  of  the  dangerous  opposition  aroused, 
pronounce  the  famous  "  yo  contrario"  whicli, 
in  the  preceding  June,  had  cut  short  the  at- 
tempted proclamation  of  martial  law  through- 
out the  country,  and  retired  ^Marshal  Ser- 
rano from  office.  Knowing  Amadeus  as  they 
must  have  known  him,  their  expressed  belief, 
whether  feigned  or  real,  as  to  his  action  gives 
us  a  conclusive  proof  of  the  critical  nature  of 
the  situation.  Nor  was  Amadeus  ignorant 
of  its  tremendous  importance.  He  knew  full 
well  that  by  his  action  he  must  alienate  not 
only  immense  numbers  of  former  partisans, 
but  incur  the  bitter  enmity  of  statesmen  and 
conservative  leaders  who  liad  united  with 
General  Prim  in  establishing  his  dynasty,  and 
whose  defection  would  place  a  fearful  weapon 
in  the  hands  of  his  enemies.  Abandoned  by 
those  who  had  been  members  of  his  council ; 
with  the  prospect  of  an  alliance  of  his  recent 
supporters  with  the  Carlists  in  arms  in  the 


176        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

provinces  ;  and  the  evidences  of  disorganiza- 
tion and  insubordination  in  his  army,  the  posi- 
tion of  the  Sovereign  was  indeed  desperate. 
Yet  in  face  of  the  tremendous  peril  which 
confronted  him,  the  royal  decree  of  December 
twenty-third  was  his  answer  to  Spain  and  to 
the  world.  A  great  wrong  was  to  be  righted, 
and  as  far  as  in  his  power  lay  he  must  aid ; 
the  cost  of  a  throne  notwithstanding. 

Although  we  cannot  but  admire  the  pluck 
shown  by  the  King,  and  thoroughly  sj'mpa- 
thize  with  the  object  in  view,  yet  we  may 
question  the  political  wisdom  of  the  step. 
True,  in  politics  it  is  not  always  fair  to  judge 
a  man,  or  party,  by  the  result  of  the  action, 
for  rarely  does  the  result  correspond  with  the 
motive  which  prompted  the  action.  Yet  to 
the  student  of  this  period  it  is  apparent  that 
the  existence  of  slavery  in  the  Spanish 
dominions  was  doomed — had  been  doomed 
by  the  principles  of  the  Revolution  of  1868 — 
while  the  constitution  of  1869  recognized  the 
equality  of  all  men  before  the  law.  The 
moment  selected  for  the  introduction  of  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  subject,  certain  as  it  was  to 
awake  the  fiercest  passions,  was,  however, 
highly  inopportune,  and  was  so  recognized 
by  the  Zorrilla   Cabinet  in  spite  of  the  sym- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        177 

pathetic  temper  of  a  considerable  ministerial 
majority  in  the  Cortes. 

The  present  writer  is  inclined  to  the  belief 
that  Amadeus,  harassed  by  the  growing  in- 
stability of  his  position,  and  convinced  of  the 
improbability  of  the  long  continuance  of  his 
reign,  had  determined  to  force  the  issue  upon 
friends  and  foes  alike,  and  to  stand  or  fall  on 
the  result.  A  great  opportunity  was  offered 
him  to  accomplish  an  act  of  humanity  which 
would  receive  the  sympathy  and  applause  of 
the  civilized  world,  while  circumstances  for- 
bade his  biding  a  more  favorable  political 
situation.  If  he  failed  he  must  probably 
sacrifice  a  crown  for  which  at  best  he  cared 
but  little,  and  which,  under  existing  circum- 
stances, was  a  terrible  burden.  Even  with 
failure  the  impetus  given  by  his  endeavor 
would  eventually — probably  at  no  distant  date 
— carry  the  question  to  a  satisfactory  solu- 
tion. If  this  was  his  reasoning  it  was  cor- 
rect. The  bill  which,  in  its  preliminary 
stages  had  twice  obtained  a  decisive  majority 
in  a  monarchical  parliament,  but  which  was  in 
serious  danger  of  defeat  after  the  proclama- 
tion of  the  republic,  passed  the  National  As- 
sembly on  ]\Iarch  22,  1873,  by  a  unanimous 
vote.     Nevertheless  Historj'  has  accorded  to 

12 


178        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THE  ONE. 

Amadeus  the  glory  of  having  aimed  the 
death-blow  at  an  institution  incompatible 
with  modern  morality  and  the  advance  of 
civilization.  The  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
West  Indies  must  ever  be  associated  with  his 
name,  although  his  was  not  the  hand  which 
signed  the  final  and  definite  decree  of  eman- 
cipation. 

Before  entering  upon  the  description  of  the 
last  short  days  of  the  reign  of  the  Italian 
prince  we  may  pause  to  ask  ourselves  the  ques- 
tion, whether  Amadeus,  with  due  consistency 
to  the  pledges  given,  could  have  pursued  a  dif- 
ferent policy  on  ascending  the  Spanish  throne? 
Speculation  on  this  head  can,  of  course,  be 
endless,  but  only  profitable  while  keeping 
strictly  in  view  the  character  and  disposition 
of  our  prince,  whereby  it  is  narrowed  to  but 
a  few  leoritimate  surmises.  At  the  risk  of 
being  accused  of  repetition  we  must  insist 
on  the  intensity  of  qualities,  amounting  to 
marked  peculiarities  in  one  of  Latin  origin, 
namely:  Scrupulous  observance  of  the  in- 
dividual rights  accorded  by  the  constitution, 
and  reverence  for  the  spirit  as  well  as  the 
letter  of  the  constitution  itself.  After  the 
proclamation  of  the  republic  we  shall  find 
the  republican  orators  themselves  eulogizing 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  HONE.        179 

the  late  King  in  their  speeches  in  the  Cortes 
for  this  unvarying  fidelity,  under  all  circum- 
Btances  and  at  all  costs,  to  the  pledges  given. 
Would  success  have  been  within  his  reach 
had  Amadeus  pursued  a  more  vigorously 
personal  policy  from  the  moment  of  his  ad- 
vent in  Spain  ?  It  must  be  admitted  that  the 
various  political  parties,  although  aggressive, 
were  disorganized  and  scattered :  republi- 
canism was  hardly  professed :  the  Carlists 
alone  were  permanently  active.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  Treasury  was  empty  ;  the  public 
credit  well-nigh  exhausted  ;  the  military  and 
civil  salaries  unpaid :  in  a  word  the  country 
on  the  verge  of  bankruptcy.  By  the  adop- 
tion of  energetic  measures,  by  the  temporary 
exercise  of  extraordinary  powers,  many  of 
these  obstacles  might  have  been  overcome. 
Depleted  public  coffers  have  before  this  been 
refilled,  and  national  credit  restored,  under 
auspices  as  unpromising  as  those  encountered 
by  the  new  King.  Amadeus  himself  liad 
been  a  witness  to  the  financial  and  revolution- 
ary straits  through  which  his  own  country 
had  passed  when  Victor  Emmanuel  was  still 
only  King  of  Sardinia.  But  here  there  ex- 
isted a  wide  difference,  the  importance  of 
which  can  hardly  be  over-estimated.     Victor 


180        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Emmanuel  was  of  his  people  :  one  "  of  them  " 
in  every  sense  of  the  word.  His  responsibil- 
ities had  come  to  him  by  inheritance :  by 
virtue  of  a  long  line  of  ancestors  whose  in- 
terests and  history  were  identical  with  those 
of  their  people  ;  while  Amadeus  stood  alone  : 
a  stranger  distrusted  and  hated  by  a  large 
portion  of  his  subjects  (many  indeed  subjects 
in  name  only).  Spain  was  like  a  bankrupt 
joint  stock  company  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver. 
Amadeus  as  the  receiver  could  with  strict 
honesty  do  no  more  than  reconcile  the  best 
interests  of  the  various  shareholders  with  the 
country's  future  redemption.  The  role  de- 
manded of  him  was  a  thankless  one  necessitat- 
ing many  sacrifices  :  the  reward  (doubtful  at 
best)  but  the  tolerance  of  those  he  served. 

The  belief  has  been  expressed  in  the  earlier 
pages  of  this  study  that  no  ruler  of  foreign 
origin,  especially  one  who  upheld  those  pro- 
visions of  the  Revolution  of  1868  offensive  to 
the  Vatican,  could  long  have  preserved  liis 
seat  on  the  Spanish  throne.  Nevertheless 
the  supposition  is  admissible  that,  had  Ama- 
deus proved  a  leader,  much  would  have  been 
forgiven  him  ;  while  who  can  say  that  suc- 
cess, immediate  and  brilliant  military  success, 
might  not  even  have  mitigated  in  the  eyes 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUROyE.        181 

of  the  multitude  the  crime  of  his  alien  origin ! 
Prim  was  dead,  a  martyr  to  political  passions 
aroused  by  the  advent  of  the  candidate  he 
had  supported.  But  the  astounding  physical 
courage  and  the  martial  bearing  of  the  young 
King  appealed  strongly  to  a  people  singularly 
influenced  by  daring,  and  Avhose  ideals  from 
time  immemorial  had  been  drawn  from  the 
heroes  of  chivalric  romance. 

"  At  least,  here  is  a  man  !  "  had  been  the 
cry  of  the  populace  when  first  they  beheld 
their  young  Sovereign. 

Success  demanded  from  the  outset  an  iron 
hand,  and  one  not  over-scrupulous  in  the 
interpretations  of  personal  liberties,  or  given 
to  constitutional  hair-splitting.  But  Spain 
had  taken  to  herself  a  King  iirmly  determined 
to  confine  his  action  strictly  to  the  duties  and 
obligations  he  had  contracted  as  a  constitu- 
tional  ruler  whose  conscientious  endeavor 
it  would  be  to  reconcile  by  all  legitimate 
means  the  conflicting  political  elements  he 
found  in  his  path,  but  who  possessed  no  en- 
thusiasms, no  illusions,  and  professed  none. 
The  apparent  apathy  so  often  remarked  upon 
during  his  short  reign  arose  from  two  prin- 
cipal causes  :  overwhelming  modesty,  not 
however  to  be  confounded  with  timidity,  and 


182        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

deep-rooted  distrust  of  his  personal  ability 
to  accoraplisli  the  task  he  had  reluctantly 
undertaken.  These  feelings  were  never  over- 
come, while  to  them  were  soon  added  dis- 
gust at  the  treachery  and  falseness  displayed 
by  those  to  whom  his  confidence  was  given, 
followed  by  lassitude  at  the  futility  of  all 
attempts  to  conciliate  the  shifting  political 
passions  distracting  the  unhappy  country  he 
had  been  called  to  govern. 

After  the  abdication  Senor  Zorrilla  asserted 
from  his  seat  in  the  Cortes  that  the  monarchy 
had  fallen,  7iot  by  the  hands  of  the  republicans 
or  the  radicals,  but  because  of  the  action  of 
those  who  "  demanded,  in  grave  and  solemn 
moments  for  the  country,  the  susjDcnsion  of 
constitutional  guarantees." 

This  would  lead  us  to  infer  that  the  mere 
utterances,  at  one  time  or  another,  of  men  in 
his  council  who  advocated  stringent  measures, 
not  strictly  constitutional,  had  caused  his 
undoing.  If  this  be  true  how  can  we  doubt 
that  although  success  might  have  momentarily 
crowned  such  a  policy,  the  result  in  the  long 
run  would  inevitably  have  been  the  same  for 
his  dynasty,  while  his  personal  identification 
with  measures  ever  so  slightly  at  variance 
with  the  sacred  pledges  given  might  even 


THE  SAVlilFlCE  OF  A  THRONE.        183 

have  incited  a  vengeance  not  unlike  that 
wreaked  on  the  unfortunate  Maximilian  in 
Mexico. 

The  opinion  of  a  man  such  as  General 
Lanza,  at  that  time  Italian  Premier,  is  not  to 
be  lightly  set  aside,  and  Lanza  considered  that 
the  King  had  too  readily  abandoned  a  situa- 
tion which  even  Spanish  statesmen  of  the 
opposition  did  not  by  any  means  hold  as  des- 
perate. But  Lanza  and  the  Spanish  critics 
forgot,  or  under-estimated  the  proverbial  straw 
which  may  convert  the  burden  silently  borne 
into  the  unbearable  weight  beneath  which 
the  struggling  victim  must  sink.  A  sneer 
here,  a  slight  there  :  an  offensive  stare  on 
this  side,  a  thinly  veiled  insult  on  that,  are 
small  things  individually — collectively  their 
import  is  more  serious.  Petty  annoyances, 
it  is  true,  but  none  the  less  painful  on  account 
of  their  smallness  and  meanness,  and  espe- 
cially distressing  to  the  Queen — a  particularly 
sensitive  woman,  totally  unfitted  for  the 
rough  usage  never  spared  those  holding  con- 
spicuous public  positions. 


CHAPTER    XL 

Glimpses  of  Amadeus'  character.— New  Year's  Day,  1873.— Dep- 
utations from  Cortes  and  their  congratulations. — Doubtful 
sincerity  of  same. — Reforms  effected  and  under  considera- 
tion.—Hopelessness  of  the  situation.— Reopening  of  Cortes. 
— Critical  moments  for  dynasty. — Birth  of  Prince  of  the  As- 
turias. 

TuKNiNG  in  despair  from  political  vexa- 
tions and  humiliations  Amadeus  found  peace 
and  the  affection  his  nature  so  needed  in  his 
family  life.  In  the  nursery  his  sons,  Em- 
manuel and  Victor,  aged  respectively  four 
and  three  years,  were  ever-ready  play-fellows 
whose  childish  pranks  he  never  wearied  of, 
and  whose  education  and  amusements  we 
shall  find  him  later  personally  supervising 
and  sharing. 

A  dilettante  in  some  respects  Amadeus 
was  at  the  same  time  a  man  of  intellectual 
energy  and  action :  physically  vigorous  he 
found  it  incumbent  on  him  to  make  abundant 
use  of  his  superfluous  vitality.  Movement 
was  essential  to  his  nature ;  the  mental  de- 
184 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        185 

ceptions  and  worries  of  his  short  career  on 
the  Spanish  throne  found  their  safety-valve  in 
the  expenditure  of  physical  force.  Mentally 
Amadeus  was  said  to  resemble  to  a  marked 
degree  his  grandfather  King  Charles  Albert. 
Like  this  ancestor  he  Avas  a  fatalist — like  him 
again  he  was  gifted  with  an  intelligence 
almost  clairvoyant  at  times  in  its  searching 
intensity.  Prone  to  distrustful  introspection, 
Amadeus  has  been  charged  with  vacillation 
and  irresolution,  whereas  the  true  cause  lay 
in  an  abnormal  sensitiveness.  Unlike  his 
grandfather,  however,  Amadeus  rapidly  threw 
off  the  moral  discouragement  occasioned  by 
political  discomfiture.  He  was  not  morose, 
but  on  the  contrary  was  endowed  with  an 
almost  boyish  exuberance  of  animal  spirits, 
particularly  infectious  and  engaging. 

Novara,  and  his  consequent  abdication, 
brought  not  only  mental  discouragement  but 
death  to  Charles  Albert ;  his  renunciation  of 
the  Spanish  throne  left  Amadeus  uncon- 
quered,  and  with  mind  untrammelled  when  he 
assumed  more  congenial  if  less  exalted  duties 
and  responsibilities. 

Amadeus  never  ruled  in  Spain.  It  is 
doubtful  whether  it  was  ever  intended  he 
should.     His  mission  was  that  of  a  pacificator. 


186        THE  SACBIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Encompassed  on  all  sides  by  a  rigid  constitu- 
tionalism which  left  little  scope  for  indi- 
vidual initiative,  he  must  fain  be  content  to 
guide,  in  so  far  as  in  his  power  lay,  the  pas- 
sions of  those  responsible  before  the  Nation, 
without,  however,  compromising  the  majesty 
of  his  office  by  permitting  himself  to  be  made 
the  tool  of  party  ambition,  or  intrigue.  But 
it  would  be  a  mistake  to  take  it  for  granted 
on  this  account  that  Amadeus  was  without 
a  clear  and  strong  personal  policy.  A  free 
hand  was  denied  him,  as  much  by  virtue  of 
his  own  conscientious  scruples  as  by  the  con- 
stitutional restrictions  which  bound  him. 

Maria  Victoria  was  shortly  again  to  become 
a  mother.  On  this  account  and  by  reason  of 
the  critical  political  outlook  the  holiday  func- 
tions at  Court  were  this  year  restricted  to  the 
narrowest  limit,  confined  principally  to  those 
of  a  private  nature  partaken  of  simply  in  the 
family  circle.  With  the  advent  of  the  new 
year,  however,  the  usual  deputations  must  be 
received,  and  the  customary  addresses  be 
patiently  listened  to  and  returned. 

Although  sucli  official  addresses  are  gener- 
ally very  much  of  the  same  pattern,  consist- 
ing of  stereotyped  eulogistic  phrases  and  well- 
worn  congratulations,  those  delivered  to  His 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        187 

Majesty  on  January  first,  1873,  by  the  depu- 
tations of  the  Senate  and  House,  are,  both  hi 
view  of  the  existing  political  situation  and 
the  important  denouement  to  follow  six  weeks 
later,  worthy  of  reproduction  here. 

At  noon  on  January  first,  the  King,  sur- 
rounded by  the  ofiicers  of  his  household,  the 
Cabinet,  Masters  of  Ceremonies,  and  high 
dignitaries  of  State,  stood  in  the  Throne 
Room  of  the  palace,  awaiting  the  deputations 
from  Parliament.  On  their  entrance  the 
President  of  the  Senate  addressed  His  Majesty 
as  follows: 

"  Sire :  With  the  opening  of  the  new  year, 
the  third  year  of  Your  Majesty's  reign  begins 
under  happy  auspices,  while  the  year  just 
closed  sees  with  joy  that  the  work  of  the  con- 
stitutional convention,  recognized  at  once  by 
all  civilized  nations,  consolidates  itself  in  a 
shorter  time  and  fortifies  itself  with  greater 
strength  than  institutions  and  dynasties  of 
traditional  origin.  The  Senate  confidently 
hopes  that  this  third  year  of  Your  Majesty's 
reign  will  remain  fixed  among  the  glories  of 
Spain  by  the  imperishable  aciiievement  in 
humanitarian  reform  which  will  soon  put  an 
end  to  slavery  in  the  beautiful  province  of 
Porto  Rico,  notwithstanding  the  opposition 


188        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE, 

to  it  by  certain  egotistical  interests  and  cer- 
tain political  ambitions,  against  which  suffice 
that  firmness  of  character  which  distinguishes 
Your  Majesty,  and  the  vigor  which  the  sense 
of  right  and  tlie  possession  of  liberty  stamp 
upon  the  decisions  of  Congress." 

To  the  above  Amadeus  replied :  "  Mr. 
President :  I  receive  with  the  highest  appre- 
ciation and  with  most  profound  satisfaction 
the  congratulations  which  the  Senate  offers 
to  me  to-day,  when  grateful  recollections 
engage  my  attention  and  grave  reflections  oc- 
cupy my  thoughts ;  for  to-day  marks  two 
years  since  I  began  to  rule  in  Spain — the  com- 
mencement of  duties  in  behalf  of  my  new  and 
beloved  country,  as  arduous  in  their  fulfil- 
ment as  the  honor  is  a  high  one  which  I  have 
received  at  the  hands  of  the  Spanish  people, 
by  whose  will  this  throne  was  erected,  upon 
whose  love  its  foundations  were  laid,  and  by 
whose  confidence  it  is  to  be  strengthened  and 
sustained.  It  is  by  such  means  that,  while 
the  country  enjoys  the  fruits  of  the  revolution, 
and  while  the  work  of  the  constituent  Cortes 
is  perpetuated,  at  the  same  time  the  energy 
of  popular  right  manifests  itself,  in  virtue  of 
which  new  dynasties  and  modern  institutions 
begin  early  to  take  root  and  acquire  for  them- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       189 

selves  a  robust  maturity.  I  accept  as  a  happy 
omen  for  the  year  just  now  begun  the  an- 
nouncement which  the  Senate  makes  to  me, 
and  the  hope  the  delegates  express  that  those 
men  who  now  live  as  slaves  in  the  loyal 
Spanish  province  of  Porto  Rico  shall  soon 
enjoy  tlieir  liberty.  A  measure  so  humani- 
tarian and  so  Christian  will  be  a  glory  for 
Spain,  an  honor  for  the  Cortes,  a  lustre  upon 
my  reign,  and  a  blazon  for  my  dynasty.  Civil- 
ized nations  will  find  in  this  a  new  cause  to 
congratulate  themselves  upon  having  recog- 
nized from  the  first  moment  the  work  of  1868. 
Spain  will  feel  a  natural  pride  at  seeing  her- 
self esteemed  and  applauded  by  all  the  world, 
while  they  who  have  shown  themselves  dis- 
trustful will  see  that  it  is  not  reasonable  to 
fear  that  an  act  of  justice  and  humanity  may 
be  a  source  of  danger  to  our  prosperity  and 
tranquillity." 

The  President  of  the  Chamber  of  Deputies 
then  advanced  and  read  the  following  words : 
"  Sire  :  This  day,  which  ushers  in  a  new  year 
in  the  evolutions  of  time,  recalls  to  our  minds 
the  eve  of  a  solemn  moment  in  the  life  of 
Your  Majesty,  and  a  memorable  epoch  in  the 
history  of  Spanish  liberty.  The  Chamber  of 
Deputies,  the  immediate  representative  of  the 


190        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

people,  lay  witli  joy  before  the  Elect  of  the 
Nation  the  homage  of  their  love,  of  their 
respect,  and  of  their  unshaken  loyalty.  For- 
tunate it  is  for  Spain,  and  a  glory  for  Your 
Majesty,  that  here,  in  this  place,  where  flat- 
tery has  so  often  raised  its  voice,  are  to  be 
heard  to-day  congratulations  prompted  by  the 
purest  affection,  and  commendations  dictated 
by  the  most  heartfelt  sincerity.  The  Spanish 
people  are  now  beholding  the  fulfilment  of  the 
hopes  with  which,  two  years  ago,  they  greeted 
Your  Majesty  for  the  first  time ;  in  your 
August  Person  every  citizen  sees  and  loves 
the  faithful  guardian  of  popular  rights  and 
the  swift  defender  of  popular  liberties  com- 
mon alike  to  all  Spaniards,  without  distinction 
of  party  or  of  class.  Thus  in  vain  are  the 
plots,  the  conspiracies,  and  assaults  directed 
against  the  popular  throne  by  those  who  act 
only  in  obedience  to  the  baleful  influences  of 
party  interest ;  now  profaning  the  sacred 
name  of  liberty ;  now  invoking  aid  from  the 
empty  shadows  of  antiquated  institutions, 
long  condemned  by  history,  and  now  mur- 
muring names  which  are  made  more  hateful 
as  we  are  vividly  reminded  of  the  intolerable 
abuses  which  they  symbolize.  Reaction, 
mobocracy,  treason  itself,  if  there  be  in  this 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        191 

loyal  land  any  one  capable  of  treason,  shall 
be  crushed  under  the  weight  of  public  con- 
demnation, for  Your  Majesty,  who  so  well  un- 
derstands and  so  wisely  practises  the  sacred 
duties  of  your  high  office,  will  ever  continue 
with  unwavering  firmness  to  assist  all  meas- 
ures tending  towards  progress,  and  to  lend 
an  attentive  ear  to  public  opinion,  the  only 
counsellor  of  democratic  sovereigns,  and  the 
only  support  of  thrones  founded  upon  the 
free  will  of  a  nation.  Listening  again  to 
that  voice  wliicli  you  have  never  disregarded, 
Your  Majesty  has  now  immortalized  your 
reign  by  authorizing  the  presentation  of  a 
bill  which,  as  soon  as  it  shall  have  been  ap- 
proved by  the  Cortes  and  shall  become  a 
law  of  the  realm,  will  restore  the  rights  of 
manhood  to  the  thirty-one  thousand  unhappy 
beings  weighed  down  to-day  by  the  cruelties 
of  slavery.  And  if,  at  the  outset,  the  voice  of 
disappointed  interests,  or  of  hostile  opinions, 
should  cry  out  against  such  a  sublime  act  of 
humanity,  its  glorious  results  shall  in  the  end 
allay  all  ill-will,  shall  calm  every  passion, 
and  shall  dispel  every  apprehension,  and  (let 
Your  Majesty  doubt  it  not)  our  most  remote 
descendants  will  bless  the  liour  in  wliich,  fol- 
lowing the  inspirations  of  right,  of  justice, 


192        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

and  of  public  good,  you  determined  to  wipe 
out  forever  the  only  blot  upon  our  glorious 
escutcheon  in  the  eyes  of  the  civilized  world. 
With  hopes  so  well  founded  and  under  such 
happy  auspices,  the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  in 
the  name  of  the  people  whom  it  represents, 
implores  the  blessing  of  Heaven  for  Your 
Majesty,  for  the  noble  lady  whose  virtues 
adorn  your  throne,  and  for  the  ro^^al  children 
who,  trained  by  so  pious  a  mother  in  the 
sacred  love  of  liberty,  are  to-day  the  hope  of 
the  nation,  and  shall  one  day  be  the  honor  of 
their  family  and  the  just  pride  of  their  coun- 
try." 

Before  commenting  upon  this  remarkable 
effusion,  we  will  quote  the  dignified  reply 
made  by  His  Majesty  :  "  Mr.  President :  Upon 
the  solemnity  of  this  day,  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies  reminds  me  that  the  beginning  of 
my  reign  corresponds  with  an  epoch  memo- 
rable for  the  liberties  of  Spain.  This  recol- 
lection is  to  me  as  proud  a  one,  and  as 
worthy  of  my  regard  and  appreciation,  as  is 
the  homage  paid  to  me  by  your  love,  your 
loyalty,  and  your  respect.  In  guarding  and 
defending  public  liberties  and  popular  rights, 
I  liave  only  been  true  to  the  dictates  of  my 
conscience  and  to  the  oath  Avhich,  of  my  own 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THROXE.        193 

free  will  and  in  the  sight  of  all  the  world,  I 
took  in  tlie  midst  of  the  Constituent  Cortes. 
Receiving  the  assurance,  in  the  name  of  the 
Chamber  of  Deputies,  that  the  Spanish  people 
witness  the  fulfilment  of  the  hopes  Avith 
which  they  greeted  me  for  the  first  time  two 
years  ago,  I  feel  the  greatest  pride  that  a 
man  may  cherish,  and  the  most  hearty  satis- 
faction that  a  monarch  may  entertain.  Full 
of  the  deepest  love  for  this,  my  adopted  coun- 
try, which,  by  raising  me  to  the  highest  dig- 
nity, has  placed  upon  me  the  gravest  respon- 
Bibility,  I  pray  to  God  that  He  will  grant  to 
it,  in  the  year  which  now  begins,  the  peace  and 
prosperity  which  it  deserves.  I  am  confident, 
as  is  also  the  Chamber  of  Deputies,  that  the 
conspiracies  directed  against  liberty  and  prog- 
ress will  be  fruitless  in  the  time  to  come, 
as  happily  they  have  been  up  to  the  present 
moment.  And  I  sincerely  and  ardently  long 
for  the  day  when,  with  all  angry  passions 
laid  aside,  every  one  may  be  persuaded  that 
there  is  no  opinion  and  no  interest  which  may 
not  thrive  under  the  shadow  of  a  throne 
founded  upon  the  national  will,  and  daily 
more  and  more  identified  with  the  people, 
and  more  firm  in  its  determination  to  seek 
counsel  in  public  opinion,  and  to  give  up  in 
13 


194        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  interest  of  freedom  every  temptation  to 
injustice  and  every  pretext  for  violence.  The 
words  of  approval  with  which  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies,  the  immediate  representatives  of  the 
people,  receives  the  proposition  to  abolish 
slavery  in  Porto  Rico  are  to  me  a  happy  pre- 
sage that  very  soon  we  are  to  give  freedom 
and  happiness  to  many  thousands  of  men,  joy 
to  our  Christian  hearts,  satisfaction  to  our 
country,  and  a  just  cause  of  praise  to  all  civ- 
ilized nations.  Profoundly  do  I  thank  the 
Chamber  of  Deputies  for  the  sentiments  ex- 
pressed toward  my  wife  and  my  children, 
whom  we  shall  train  up  in  the  love  of  liberty 
to  the  end  that  they  may  become  worthy  of 
their  country." 

We  may  well  imagine  the  smile  which 
played  about  the  King's  mouth  as  he  listened 
to  the  protestations  of  the  love  and  affection 
of  his  subjects,  and  the  assurances  of  the 
happy  auspices  under  which  the  third  year  of 
his  reigfn  had  beofun.  Poor  Amadeus  !  The 
outward  and  visible  signs  of  the  affection  of 
the  people,  of  the  loyalty  of  his  advisers,  or 
the  support  of  his  adherents,  had  not  been 
vouchsafed  him  to  any  manifest  extent  during 
the  recent  months  of  political  agitation, 
attempted  assassination  and  vexatious  insults. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        195 

It  was  hard  to  reconcile  the  ever-increasing 
difficulties  of  his  position  with  the  flowery 
optimism  of  the  addresses,  and  the  guarded 
replies  demonstrate  the  purely  official  inter- 
pretation accorded  to  utterances  prompted 
by  empty  etiquette  alone.  While  acknowl- 
edging the  presages  for  his  dynasty  he  knew 
full  well  that  the  day  when  all  angry  passions 
would  be  laid  aside  could  never  dawn  during 
his  occupancy  of  the  throne. 

Some  cause  for  congratulation  there  cer- 
tainly was.  In  the  face  of  the  Carlists  in 
arms,  "threatened  by  anarchy  and  chaos" 
(the  words  are  Zorrilla's),  the  Church  bill 
had  been  presented  and  passed  ;  the  budget 
voted,  and  various  minor  reforms  effected, 
while  the  Government  had  under  considera- 
tion the  reorganization  of  the  police  and 
penitentiary  systems,  the  inauguration  of 
reforms  in  the  criminal  laws,  and  the  adoption 
of  other  constitutional  means  to  restore  and 
preserve  order.  But  the  work  accomplished 
was  purely  administrative,  due  largely  to  the 
patriotic  forbearance  of  the  republican  leaders 
in  the  Cortes,  and  the  consolidation  of  the 
dynasty  had  become  more  chimerical  as  the 
months  rolled  by. 

In  spite  of  his  brave  words,  Amadeus  was 


196        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

fully  aware  of  the  impossibility  of  a  continu- 
ance of  the  actual  condition  of  affairs,  and 
merely  awaited  the  opportunity  which  would 
permit  of  his  throwing  from  his  shoulders 
the  burden  it  no  longer  profited  any  one  he 
should  bear. 

The  opportunity  was  not  long  in  presenting 
itself.  The  formation  of  the  anti-emancipa- 
tion league,  with  its  formidable  list  of  treach- 
erous adherents,  and  insidious  methods  to 
undermine  the  authority  of  the  Crown,  had 
dealt  a  staggering  blow.  This  was  soon  to  be 
followed  by  one,  due,  it  was  asserted,  to  the 
machinations  of  the  league,  which  left  the 
unfortunate  sovereign  no  option  but  that  of 
abdication  or  the  repudiation  of  the  oath  he 
had  taken  as  constitutional  monarch.  In 
such  an  emergency  Amadeus  was  not  the  man 
to  hesitate. 

The  Cortes  reassembled  on  January  15, 
1873,  and  the  emancipation  act  was  at  once 
referred  to  a  special  committee  chosen  by  the 
several  sections  into  which  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies  was  subdivided  for  certain  legisla- 
tive purposes.  Notwithstanding  the  general 
feeling  of  uneasiness  which  pervaded  political 
circles,  and  the  unceasing  intrigues  fomented 
in  all  quarters  by  the  league,  few  anticij)ated 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        197 

that  the  climax  would  so  soon  be  reached. 
The  American  diplomat,  however,  always 
alert  and  always  well-informed,  telegraphed 
to  his  government  on  January  30th  that 
he  had  reasons  to  anticipate  very  soon  a 
change  in  the  form  of  government,  and  re- 
quested to  be  instructed  as  to  his  line  of  con- 
duct in  case  the  existing  Congress  should 
declare  itself  a  convention  and  appoint  a  new 
Executive. 

In  the  midst  of  the  universal  expectancy 
the  royal  apartments  in  the  palace  were  the 
scene  of  what,  under  different  circumstances, 
would  have  been  considered  a  happy  omen. 
On  the  night  of  January  29th  the  Queen, 
Maria  Victoria,  was  delivered  of  a  son,  to  be 
known  later  as  Prince  Louis,  Duke  of  the 
Abruzzi,  and  to  become  a  cultivated  and 
efficient  officer  in  the  Italian  nav}-. 

The  official  presentation  and  baptism  of 
the  little  prince  took  place  in  the  palace  the 
following  day. 

Within  a  fortnight  of  his  entrance  into 
the  world  this  child,  who  received  at  his 
birth  the  proud  titles  of  Infant  of  Spain 
and  Prince  of  the  Asturias,  was  being 
hurried  over  the  Portuguese  frontier  in 
the  arms  of  his  mother,  who,  fainting  from 


198        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  weakness  of  fever,  and  distracted  by 
anxiety  for  the  safety  of  her  loved  ones,  was 
an  exile  from  the  land  whose  sufferings  slie 
had  nobly  endeavored  to  alleviate,  and  whose 
outcasts  she  had  claimed  for  her  especial  care 
and  benefactions. 


CHAPTER  XII. 

Immediate  cause  of  abdication.— General  Hidalgo  and  the 
Artillery  Corps.— Resignation  of  officers. — Amadeus  declares 
his  resolution  to  Zorrilla.— Conservative  ofifers.- Zorrilla's 
responsibilities.- Efforts  to  delay  announcement  of  abdica- 
tion.— Meeting  of  the  Cortes.— Zorrilla's  statements  to  the 
House. — He  opposes  permanent  session. — Conflict  between 
Cabinet  and  Chamber. — Seuor  Castelar  addresses  the  House. 
—Zorrilla  leaves  the  Chamber. — Martos  agrees  to  permanent 
Session. 

We  must  now  endeavor  to  describe  the 
immediate  causes  which  induced  the  King  to 
precipitate  the  step  he  had  long  been  meditat- 
ing. 

Some  days  before  the  despatch  of  the  tele- 
gram to  the  American  Government  which 
has  been  quoted,  an  incident  occurred  at  the 
palace,  apparently  trivial  in  itself,  but  which 
under  existing  circumstances,  aided  by  the 
skilful  manipulations  of  the  League,  was  des- 
tined to  prove  of  sinister  import. 

During  the  session  of  the  usual  Cabinet 
meeting  for  the  transaction  of  current  busi- 
ness, Amadeus  had  placed  before  him  for 
199 


200        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

signature  the  commission  appointing  a  cer- 
tain General  Baltasar  Hidalgo  to  an  impor- 
tant command  in  the  northern  provinces. 

A  story  Avas  in  circulation  to  the  effect 
that  this  officer  had  been  implicated  in  a  rev- 
olutionary movement  which  had  broken  out 
in  the  Madrid  barracks  in  1866,  when,  a  num- 
ber of  artillery  sergeants,  having  gained  over 
their  companies,  undertook  to  compel  their 
officers  to  join  them.  In  spite  of  this  episode, 
Hidalgo  had  subsequently  held  commands 
both  in  Cuba  and  in  Spain  without  exciting 
comment.  On  the  present  occasion,  however, 
it  was  known  that  the  proposed  appointment 
was  unpopular  with  the  General's  brother- 
officers.  His  Majesty,  aware  of  the  objec- 
tions raised,  attempted  to  dissuade  the 
Minister  of  War,  in  view  of  the  discontent 
which  would  be  caused,  from  insisting  on  the 
appointment.  To  his  surprise  he  was  con- 
fronted with  a  threat  of  resignation  should 
the  promotion  be  refused.  A  ministerial 
crisis  at  that  moment  seemed  of  far  more  im- 
portance than  the  possible  discontent  of  a 
few  officers  of  artillery ;  therefore  Amadeus 
unwillingly  yielded  to  the  representations  of 
his  Minister  and  signed  the  commission. 

As  soon  as  it  became  known  that  Hidalgo 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       201 

had  received  the  appointment  the  entire  artil- 
lery corps,  as  an  act  of  protest,  tendered  their 
resignations  and  demanded  to  be  relieved 
from  duty ;  even  those  serving  before  the 
enemy  following  their  comrades'  example, 
and  refusing  to  recognize  the  General's  au- 
thority over  any  portion  of  their  branch  of  the 
service.  The  resignations  of  several  hundred 
officers  of  all  grades  were  thus  laid  before  the 
Crown. 

The  situation  was  serious.  Especially  so 
as  little  doubt  could  be  entertained  but  that 
political  sympathy  with  the  League,  and  the 
knowledge  that  a  large  fund  had  been  raised 
by  the  same  for  the  maintenance  of  officers 
depending  on  their  pay,  had  influenced  many 
of  those  who  made  Hidalgo's  appointment 
the  pretext  for  their  resignation.  A  large 
majority  of  the  artillery  officers  stationed  in 
Madi'id  were  known  to  frequently  attend 
meetings  held  at  the  house  of  Sefior  August© 
Ulloa,  who  was  in  violent  and  open  oppo- 
sition to  the  policy  of  the  Zorrilla  govern- 
ment. 

Once  the  magnitude  of  the  movement  was 
realized  every  effort  ^^■as  made  to  demonstrate 
the  unpatriotic  attitude  of  the  corps,  whose 
officere  practically  deserted  in  the  face  of  the 


202        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

enemy.  But  in  vain  :  even  those  who  would 
have  preferred  to  remain  neutral  were  coerced 
by  their  comrades,  or  by  the  agents  of  the 
Carlists  who,  on  the  present  occasion,  were 
allied  with  the  League  in  the  plot  to  under- 
mine the  throne. 

The  desire  expressed  by  General  Cordova 
to  resign,  recall  Hidalgo  and  himself  fill  his 
place  was  overruled  by  his  colleagues,  who 
were  determined  on  the  dissolution  of  the 
corps,  in  spite  of  the  well-known  antipathy 
of  the  King  to  sanction  such  an  extreme 
measure.  At  the  same  time  all  attempts  at 
a  compromise  were  skilfully  subverted  by 
those  interested  in  aggravating  the  political 
passions  on  both  sides. 

The  resignations  were  accepted,  and  im- 
mediate steps  taken  for  the  reorganization  of 
the  corps.  The  superior  grades  were  filled 
by  transfers  from  the  engineers  and  infantry, 
sergeants  being  promoted  to  be  company  of- 
ficers. 

The  impression  produced  by  this  lament- 
able occurrence  can  well  be  imagined.  Ru- 
mors of  the  wildest  nature  were  spread  abroad, 
while  it  was  asserted  that,  should  the  King 
refuse  to  undo  the  acts  of  the  ministry,  the 
other  arms  would  follow  the  example  of  the 


I 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        203 

artillery,  and  that  the  country  would  in  con- 
sequence be  left  defenceless. 

Placed  in  this  unfortunate  position,  Ania- 
deus  was  believed  to  contemplate  demanding 
the  resignation  of  the  Cabinet,  and  making 
an  appeal  to  the  conservatives  for  aid  and 
support.  Time  was,  however,  not  allowed 
the  King  to  put  the  projects  attributed  to 
him  into  execution.  The  Cabinet,  anticipat- 
ing difficulties  at  the  palace,  adroitly  sub- 
mitted the  matter  to  the  Cortes  during  the 
memorable  session  of  February  seventh,  and 
having  obtained  a  vote  of  confidence  and  the 
approbation  of  Parliament  in  their  proceed- 
ings, presented  to  the  King  the  decree  for  the 
dissolution  of  the  artillery  corps  under  cir- 
cumstances which  left  His  jNIajesty  no  alter- 
native but  to  sign  it. 

Tricked  by  his  advisers  into  following 
a  course  which  his  better  judgment  con- 
demned, and  realizing  in  the  moral  and  politi- 
cal disorganization  of  the  army,  evidenced  by 
the  emphatic  protest  of  his  officers  against  an 
appointment  sanctioned  by  the  Crown,  the 
futility  of  further  effort,  Amadeus,  after  sign- 
ing the  second  decree,  announced  to  Senor 
Zorrilla  his  determination  to  abdicate  the 
throne. 


204        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUB  ONE. 

It  was  in  vain  that  the  Minister,  dismayed 
at  the  turn  the  crisis  had  taken,  urged  the 
King  to  reconsider  his  resolution.  The  event 
had  been  too  long  foreseen  by  His  Majesty, 
and  his  action  on  the  occasion  too  carefully 
weighed  to  make  reconsideration  necessary 
once  the  step  was  taken.  The  utmost 
Amadeus  could  concede  was  an  apparent  un- 
certainty, which  would  allow  the  Cabinet  time 
to  present  itself  before  the  Cortes,  and,  with- 
out dangerous  precipitation,  frame  measures 
for  the  preservation  of  order  pending  the 
action  of  the  Constituent  Assembly  on  the 
official  announcement  of  the  abdication. 

Those  about  His  Majesty  were  loud  in  their 
demands  that  extreme  measures  be  adopted 
for  the  maintenance  of  the  dynasty,  and  the 
conservative  leaders  declared  themselves 
ready  to  undertake  the  succession  of  the  Zor- 
rilla  Cabinet.  Many  of  those  who  had  here- 
tofore held  aloof  from  the  Court  were  now 
willing,  with  the  dread  of  a  republic,  or  worse, 
before  their  eyes,  to  cast  in  their  lot  with  that 
of  the  dynasty  they  had  professed  to  despise. 
A  deputation  of  army  officers  is  alleged  to 
have  besought  His  Majesty  to  authorize  them 
to  employ  the  troops  of  the  Madrid  garrison 
to  enable  the    Kinsr  to   dismiss  the    Zorrilla 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        205 

Cabinet,  dissolve  the  Cortes,  suspend  the  con- 
stitution, and  maintain  the  throne. 

To  all  these  suggestions  Amadeus  made 
but  one  reply ;  that  he  had  sworn  to  uphold 
and  obey  the  constitution ;  that  he  had  kept 
his  faith  with  the  country,  approving  all 
measures  sanctioned  by  the  Cortes,  and  en- 
deavoring to  mete  out  justice  equally  to  all 
parties.  It  was  now  too  late  for  him  to 
give  his  confidence  to  those  who  had  kept 
aloof  from  the  Court  until  no  honorable  re- 
source was  left  but  to  return  his  Crown  to 
the  Cortes,  from  whom  he  had  received  it, 
and  leave  the  country  free  to  determine  its 
destinies. 

In  the  words  of  Collantes,  Amadeus  abdi- 
cated "■  because  he  had  learned  that  he  had  no 
other  supporters  than  they  who  were  monar- 
chists and  partisans  of  his  dynasty  only  while 
he  gave  them  power,  and  who  turned  against 
him  the  moment  he  changed  his  Cabinet." 

As  for  the  dismissal  of  the  Zorrilla  Cabinet 
and  the  substitution  of  a  reactionary  one,  it 
did  not  require  the  eloquence  of  a  Castelar 
to  convince  any  one  that  should  the  King 
revoke  his  abdication  he  could  not  continue 
to  reign  with  authority  or  respect,  or  fonn  a 
Ministry  which  would  not  immediately  find 


206       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

itself  in  hopeless  embarrassment.  Jacta  alea  : 
once  the  desire  to  renounce  the  Crown  form- 
ulated, the  prestige  attached  thereto  was 
gone  beyond  recall.  Zorrilla  knew  this,  and 
he  was  not  the  less  aware  that  the  King's 
decision  was  irrevocable.  It  is  consequently 
difficult  to  understand  the  precise  object  he 
had  in  view  while  so  fervently  pleading  with 
His  Majesty  to  delay  the  official  announce- 
ment of  his  renunciation  of  the  throne.  It 
must  have  been  evident  to  him  that  the  op- 
portunity would  immediately  be  taken  ad- 
vantage of  by  the  republicans.  On  the  other 
hand,  had  the  King's  abdication  been  solemn- 
ly and  officially  announced  to  the  Cortes,  sim- 
ultaneously with  the  resignation,  ipso  facto, 
of  the  Cabinet,  the  subsequent  discussion  by 
that  body  as  to  the  necessity  of  a  permanent 
session,  which  Senor  Zorrilla  rightly  con- 
sidered so  derogatory  to  the  dignity  of  a 
Government  still  in  the  exercise  of  its  func- 
tions, and  which  certainly  contributed  little 
towards  safeguarding  the  prestige  of  the 
Crown,  would  have  been  avoided.  The  result, 
as  far  as  the  action  of  the  Cortes  was  con- 
cerned, which  action  was  duly  provided  for 
by  the  constitution,  must  have  remained  the 
same. 


THE  SACBIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        207 

As  President  of  the  Council  Sefior  Zorrilla 
was  morall}'  responsible  for  the  crisis  forced 
upon  the  Crown  by  the  injudicious  action  of 
the  Minister  of  War,  the  consequences  of 
which  must  have  been  apparent  to  a  states- 
man of  such  vast  experience  and  in  a  position 
to  be  so  thoroughly  cognizant  of  the  feelings 
and  temper  of  his  countrymen.  The  accusa- 
tion of  flagrant  treachery  has,  in  the  humble 
opinion  of  the  present  writer,  never  been 
substantiated ;  at  the  same  time  it  would  seem 
impossible  to  absolve  the  Minister  of  the  com- 
mittal of  a  colossal  error  of  judgment,  or  of 
being  a  party  to  a  deliberate  attempt  to  over- 
ride the  legitimate  scruples  and  constitutional 
prerogatives  of  his  royal  master. 

Amadeus  had  communicated  his  decision  to 
the  Prime  Minister  after  the  Cabinet  council 
held  on  Saturday,  February  8th.  Towards 
the  evening  of  the  following  day  it  began  to 
be  noised  about  that  the  King  had  intimated  a 
desire  to  renounce  the  Crown,  and  the  matter 
was  eagerly  discussed  in  the  tlieatres  and 
clubs.  On  Monday  morning  several  news- 
papers confirmed  the  report,  giving  their 
opinions  as  to  the  steps  which  would  be  made 
necessary  by  such  decision.  During  the 
course  of  the  day  signs  of  unusual  animation 


208        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUIiOXE. 

and  excitement  were  visible  in  the  streets  and 
public  places  of  the  capital,  and  enormous 
crowds  began  to  congregate  around  the  palace 
of  the  Cortes.  No  information  had  been 
vouchsafed,  and  in  consequence  the  key  to 
the  mysterious  situation  was  loudly  demanded 
on  all  sides.  The  Government  had  early  taken 
steps  for  the  maintenance  of  public  order, 
but  there  was  no  unusual  display  of  force 
except  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the 
Cortes. 

The  Cortes  met  as  usual  at  three  o'clock.* 
A  crowd  of  deputies  filled  the  lobbies  and 
committee  rooms,  but  the  Chamber  itself  was 
almost  deserted,  for  the  members  of  the  Cabinet 
had  not  yet  made  their  appearance,  although 
it  was  known  that  the  sitting  of  the  council 
was  ended,  and  that  the  Ministers  were  act- 
ually in  the  building.  The  delay  caused  such 
manifest  dissatisfaction  that  Serior  Figueras, 
the  republican  parliamentary  leader,  demanded 
of  the  Chair  that  the  ministers  be  summoned 

*  In  the  preparation  of  the  above  description  of  the 
occurrences  in  the  Chamber  the  writer  has  been 
largely  indebted  to  the  able  and  minute  report  of 
General  Sickles  who,  aided  by  his  admirable  secre- 
tary, Mr.  Alvey  A.  Adee,  conscientiously  transcribed 
the  proceedings  in  detail  for  the  information  and 
guidance  of  his  Government. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       209 

in  order  that  the  Chamber  might  be  officially 
informed  of  a  crisis  which  it  was  understood 
embraced  not  only  the  Cabinet,  but  even  the 
Crown.  As  Figueras  terminated  his  remarks 
the  Ministers,  headed  by  the  President  of 
the  council,  appeared  and  took  their  seats  on 
the  Ministrial  bench. 

Senor  Zorrilla  at  once  rose  and  addressed 
the  House.  lie  said  it  was  true  the  Kingr 
had  spoken  of  abdication,  but  that  nothing 
could  transpire  officially  on  so  grave  a  matter 
until  His  Majesty  had  given  the  subject  more 
reflection.  He  added  that  the  Cabinet  had 
besought  the  King  to  pause  in  his  purpose, 
and  take  twenty-four  or  forty-eight  hours  to 
reconsider  his  determination.  In  the  mean- 
while he  hoped  the  House  would  suspend  its 
sittings,  thus  leaving  the  Government  disen- 
gaged from  other  duties,  so  that  they  might 
consider  and  frame  the  measures  most  expe- 
dient to  be  brought  in  for  the  action  of  the 
Cortes. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  Premier's  speech, 
Senor  Figueras  again  demanded  the  floor,  and 
insisted  on  the  presentation  of  a  motion  that, 
in  view  of  the  serious  nature  of  the  crisis, 
the  House  should  declare  itself  in  permanent 
session,  at  the  same  time  professing  the  fear 
14 


210        TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

that,  should  delay  be  granted,  and  the  House 
be  found  unprepared,  the  opportunity  might 
be  seized  by  the  Crown  to  call  the  army  to 
its  assistance,  thus  plunging  the  nation  in 
bloodshed. 

In  vain  did  Senor  Zorrilla  disclaim  any 
official  announcement  that  the  King  had  ab- 
dicated, and  cling  to  the  statement  he  made 
that  Amadeus  had  spoken  of  abdication,  but 
that  until  the  abdication  was  laid  before  the 
Cortes  the  dynasty  existed  and  the  Ministers 
of  the  Crown  were  entitled  to  exercise  their 
authority.  Senor  Figueras  contended  that 
once  the  words  had  fallen  from  the  lips  of 
the  King,  and  the  President  of  the  Council 
had  communicated  them  to  the  Cortes  they 
were  beyond  recall.  The  political  situation 
did  not  permit  of  the  Cortes  patiently  await- 
iiicr  till  the  President  informed  them  that  the 
King  revoked  "  an  irrevocable  resolution." 
He  demanded  that  there  should  be  no  adjourn- 
ment ;  that  they  should  await  events  in  their 
seats,  and  meet  them  in  a  way  becoming  the 
magistracy  of  a  great  nation.  It  was  neces- 
sary that  Madrid  see  a  power  to  protect  it : 
the  Executive  had,  he  considered,  ceased  to 
exist. 

Zorrilla  replied  that  the  ground  taken  that 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        211 

there  was  now  no  Executive  power  confirmed 
his  position.  One  of  two  things  must  be 
done  ?  If  there  was  an  Executive  authorit}', 
as  he  affirmed,  there  was  no  need  of  a  per- 
manent Session.  If  the  Chamber  tliought 
that  tlie  Executive  had  ceased  to  exist,  then 
let  it  proceed  to  name  one  at  once.  He 
maintained  that  the  Cabinet  exercised  the 
Executive  power,  with  the  sanction  of  the 
Crown  and  the  vote  of  the  Chambers,  until 
dismissed  by  the  one  or  the  other.  But 
he  could  not  admit  that  the  Government 
needed  a  guardian  to  see  that  it  performed 
its  duties. 

Senor  Martos  (Minister  of  State),  having 
asked  the  floor,  delivered  a  long  speech,  in 
which  he  cleverly  combined  "  compliments 
to  some,  hopes  to  others,  and  a  mixture  of 
both  for  all." 

"  I  said  one  day,  from  yonder  benches,"  ex- 
claimed Senor  Martos,  pointing  to  the  left, 
"  that  when  all  should  be  lost,  that  when  un- 
happily there  should  be  no  King,  we  would 
cry  :  The  King  is  dead — long  live  the 
Nation  I  I  repeat  it  now.  But  let  the 
Chamber  say  it  when  the  King  is  gone.  .  .  . 
I  am  a  Minister  of  the  Crown,  one  of  a  Cabi- 
net  that   has   thiis    far    merited   the   confi- 


212        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

dence  of  the  Chambers.  I  must  preserve  my 
honor  and  loyalty  as  one  of  His  Majesty's 
ministers,  and  more  than  ever  if  His  Majesty 
persists,  in  his  determination  ...  in  this 
hour  of  the  King's  extremity  I  shall  not  re- 
fuse him  my  voice,  my  counsel,  or  my  life. 
It  is  true,  gentlemen,  that  I  fear  the  decision 
of  the  King  is  irrevocable.  After  making 
known  his  purjDose  I  fear  he  must  execute  it. 
This  being  so,  I  ask,  can  anything  be  more 
clear  than  the  future  of  the  republican  party  ? 
The  difficult  point  in  the  situation  is  with 
those  who  are  resolved  to  perform  their 
duties  as  a  government  until  the  King  has 
signed  his  abdication,  and  until  the  Cortes 
have  established  such  a  Government  as  it  may 
please  them  to  ordain.  I  know  that  in  main- 
taining our  trust  we  may  see  the  blood  of 
the  people  shed,  and  you  will  comprehend 
the  gravity  with  which  we  contemplate  the 
situation.  This  last  duty  to  the  dynasty 
performed,  I  am  also  one  of  those  who  will 
be  found  where  liberty  is  fighting,  in  the 
ranks  of  her  common  soldiers,  indifferent  to 
the  mere  name  inscribed  upon  the  banner. 
This  is  one  of  the  difficult  moments  of  public 
life,  not  for  you,  republicans,  who  have  only 
to  be  patient,  because,  if  the  King  goes,  there 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.       213 

is  nothing  else  possible  but  the  republic. 
And  you,  by  your  impatience,  are  compromis- 
ing the  republic  and  liberty !  .  .  .  You  de- 
mand a  permanent  session.  That  is  to  say, 
there  is  no  Executive,  and  the  Assembly 
assumes  all  po\vei"s.  The  Government  replies 
we  can  preserve  order  better  than  an  Assem- 
bly, because  deliberative  bodies  cannot  be 
efficient  guardians  of  public  order." 

Replying  to  Senor  Figueras  and  the  imagi- 
nary dangers  he  had  conjured  up,  the  Min- 
ister resumed :  "  Since,  then,  there  is  no 
occasion  for  a  permanent  session.  The  King 
still  reigns  under  the  constitution,  Ministers 
are  still  at  their  posts  performing  their  duties, 
and  the  constitution  affords  the  means  of 
settling  all  conflicts  that  may  arise.  Why, 
then,  precipitate  events  ?  .  .  .  Withdraw 
this  proposition.  Avoid  everything  not 
legal  and  constitutional  in  its  origin.  In 
our  constitution  will  be  found  the  remedy 
for  all  our  difficulties.  Even  if  chaos  comes 
and  a  new  creation  is  necessary,  let  it  appear 
with  law  ;  let  it  come  from  this  Chamber  if 
it  is  not  so  born.  If  our  institutions  are  pro- 
cured in  the  streets  and  from  barricades 
Liberty  is  lost.  If  they  come  from  our 
hands,   sanctioned  by  law,  we  may  be  sure 


214        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

their  birth  will  be  auspicious,  and  they  will 
save  the  country  and  liberty." 

Seiior  Castelar  then  rose  in  his  seat,  and  in 
one  of  those  matchless  outpourings  of  elo- 
quence for  which  he  stands  unsurpassed, 
pleaded  for  the  permanent  session  so  distaste- 
ful to  the  Cabinet.  Warning  his  colleagues 
not  to  expect  a  speech  from  him  at  such  a 
moment,  when  the  display  of  mere  elo- 
quence, the  mouthings  of  a  rhetorician, 
would  seem  like  the  levity  of  Nero  strum- 
ming the  lyre  while  his  capital  was  in  flames, 
he  explains  the  reality  which  stares  them  in 
the  face.  "  That  reality,  Gentlemen,  is  that, 
without  provocation  from  any  one,  by  the 
fault  of  none,  the  people  or  the  government, 
the  Cortes  or  any  public  authority,  without 
a  cloud  in  the  sky,  the  King,  the  actual  King, 
the  elected  King,  the  dynastic  King,  has 
announced  publicly  and  solemnly  that  he 
hurls  from  his  head  to  the  pavement  the 
Crown  of  Spain.  ...  I  ask  you,  if  we  con- 
cede these  twenty-four  hours  demanded  of 
us,  and  the  King  recall  his  abdication,  do 
you  believe  he  can  continue  to  govern,  to 
reign  with  authority  and  respect  ?  No, 
never!  What  Cabinet  could  he  form  that 
we    would  accept  ?     What   ministry   would 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THROyE.        215 

not  find  itself  in  liopeless  embarrassment  ? 
Who  cannot  see  that  in  any  kind  of  a  re- 
public there  Avould  be  greater  stability  than 
can  henceforth  be  found  in  this  monarchy  ? 
.  .  .  You  have  sought  a  regal  dynasty, 
with  a  patriotic  purpose  I  appreciate,  because 
you  believed  the  monarchy  less  subject  to 
oscillation,  less  prone  to  the  influence  of 
popular  passions ;  because  you  believe  that 
with  a  dynasty  you  could  guide  the  wheel  of 
fortune ;  and  this  monarch  of  yours,  within 
a  briefer  period  than  the  term  of  a  President 
of  a  Republic,  without  premonition  or  prepa- 
ration, like  a  flash  in  a  clear  sky,  abandons 
you,  and  you  wish  now,  as  a  point  of  etiquette, 
that  the  nation  shall  sacrifice  itself  to  this 
expiring  dynasty  !  Oh  !  my  friends  !  in 
what  age,  in  what  nation,  let  me  ask  my 
eloquent  friend  the  Minister  of  State,  who 
is  one  of  the  glories  of  the  Spanish  tribune, 
and  who  knows  history  so  well,  when  and 
where  would  etiquette  or  ceremon}-,  or  any 
mere  form  of  procedure  be  preferred  to  the 
public  safety  ?  Do  you  accept  the  acts  of 
our  fathers  in  1808,  when  after  Ferdinand 
the  Seventh  abandoned  the  country,  they 
seized  the  crown,  took  away  its  prerogatives 
and  privileges,  and  converted  absolute  mon- 


216        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

arcliy  into  a  constitutional  government  ?  Do 
you  think  they  should  have  paused  because 
the  King  was  absent,  because  he  had  aban- 
doned Spain?  .  .  .  Can  Victor  Emmanuel 
himself  wonder  after,  confiding  to  the  loyalty 
of  Senor  Zorrilla,  and  not  unworthily,  the  per- 
son of  his  son,  that  we  hasten  to  save  ourselves 
without  waiting  for  forms ;  can  he  complain 
when  he  remembers  the  treaty  he  signed  with 
France— signed  it  with  his  own  hand— a  treaty 
vainly  invoked  at  the  moment  when  France, 
who  had  created  Italy,  found  herself  in  the 
depths  of  an  abyss,  and  when,  in  defiance  to  its 
provisions,  the  Italian  troops  passed  the  Tiber, 
entered  Rome,  destroyed  the  most  ancient 
power  known  to  modern  history,  and  pro- 
claimed on  its  ruins  a  constitutional  mon- 
archy— and  this  for  the  salvation  of  Italy  and 
the  glory  of  his  crown  ?  " 

Addressing  himself  to  Senor  Zorrilla,  the 
orator  continues : 

"  Have  I  not  heard  you  say  in  your  elo- 
quent speeches  that  you  are  indifferent  to 
the  forms  of  our  government  ?  Have  you  not 
always  told  me  the  substance  was  liberty  and 
democracy?  Now,  when  it  is  not  we  who 
have  destroyed  the  monarcli}^  when,  in  a  cer- 
tain sense  and  within  certain  limits,  we  have 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        217 

helped  you  in  this  last  attempt  to  reconcile 
monarchy  with  liberty,  will  you,  Avhile  the 
monarchy  falls,  will  you,  like  the  old  rhetori- 
cians and  Byzantine  disputants,  sacrifice 
liberty  at  the  altar  of  a  fugitive  monarchy? 
It  might  be  otherwise  if  this  Cabinet  inspired 
every  one  with  the  confidence  I  feel  in  it ;  if 
the  people  knew  of  it  what  I  know ;  if  all 
understood  its  history  and  pledges  to  liberty 
as  I  recognize  them,  tlien  none  would  have 
fears.  But  you  cannot  make  nations  like 
individuals;  3^ou  cannot  ignore  the  agitation 
that  moves  Madrid  and  extends  to  all  the 
capitals ;  the  distrust  that  permeates  the 
country ;  the  currents  that  may  impel  us  to 
a  fearful  catastrophe.  Let  me  plead  with  you ; 
let  me  pray  you,  not  as  a  deputy  of  the 
minority,  but  as  a  Spaniard,  to  avoid  this 
peril  by  an  immediate  decision,  now,  while 
you  can  yet  save  the  person  of  the  King, 
although  you  cannot  save  his  authority,  or 
his  crown.  .  .  .  Let  us,  then,  accept  the 
proposition  to  go  into  permanent  Session. 
You  ask  for  twenty-four  hours!  The  King 
asks  this  delay,  through  the  President  of  the 
Council.  We  do  not  ignore  the  King.  He 
has  ignored  himself ;  we  ignore  notliing, 
absolutely  nothing.     We,  tlie  depositaries  of 


218        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  national  sovereignty,  choose  to  exercise 
a  power  never  denied,  not  even  by  the  ancient 
monarchs  to  the  Cortes,  a  supervisory  power 
that  does  not  permit  us  to  cease  our  vigilance 
over  the  public  welfare.  What  right  has  the 
Cabinet  or  the  fugitive  monarchy  to  object  to 
the  performance  of  this  duty  ?  .  .  ." 

On  the  conclusion  of  Senor  Castelar's  stir- 
ring appeal  Zorrilla  again  asked  the  attention 
of  the  House.  He  wished,  he  said,  to  eluci- 
date a  situation  which  was  evidently  misunder- 
stood. The  republican  speakers  affirmed  that 
the  country  was  without  a  King  or  a  dynasty. 
Tliis  was  not  true.  There  was  evidently  a 
desire  to  precipitate  events  and  to  alarm  the 
Chamber.  The  proposition  of  Seiior  Figueras 
was  disrespectful  to  the  Cabinet  and  the 
Government ;  liis  explanations  as  well  as  Senor 
Castelar's  remarks,  had  given  it  a  special 
signification.  A  permanent  session  was  de- 
sired in  order  that,  should  the  King  reconsider 
his  decision,  he  may  be  confronted  with  the 
assertion  that  it  was  too  late  ;  and  if  he  per- 
sisted that  his  renunciation  may  be  accepted. 
"  A  permanent  session,"  argued  the  Minister, 
"  if  granted,  can  liave  no  other  object  than  the 
one  I  liave  indicated.  It  is  designed  in  this 
permanent  session  to  vote  a  guardian  for  us 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        219 

that  we  have  not  asked.  You  are  about  to  say 
that  you  have  no  confidence  in  us.  (Cries  of 
No,  No !  )  Yes — because  lialf-way  confidence 
is  no  confidence.  Having  said  this,  do  as 
you  please ;  but  bear  in  mind  that  if  the  King 
has  taken  forty-eight  hours  to  consider  and 
decide,  he  has  done  so  at  the  solicitation  of  the 
Council  of  Ministers.  Let  each  one  choose  his 
side,  which  we  will  not  discuss  now,  for  to- 
morrow history  will  do  justice  to  all.  The 
Government  has  brought  nothing  official  here 
for  debate  or  action.  The  Government  does 
not  consent  that  the  Chamber  shall  declare 
itself  in  permanent  session.  The  Government, 
in  so  far  as  it  is  not  derogatory  to  its  dignity, 
nor  menacing  to  responsible  power,  would 
have  no  objection  to  the  adoption  of  a  prop- 
osition. But  the  republican  minority,  not 
satisfied  with  this,  demands  a  permanent 
session  for  the  purposes  I  have  indicated.  I 
am  responsible  for  order  and  liberty.  When 
the  present  emergency  is  over,  whatever  may 
be  the  solution  adopted,  I  shall  retire  to  some 
obscure  corner.  I  do  not  wish  to  weary  the 
Chamber.  If  the  solution  we  approach  con- 
tributes to  the  happiness  of  the  country  all 
of  us  will  rejoice,  for  we  have  only  sought 
the  public  prosperity.     If,  on  the  contrary, 


220       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

an  unfortunate  result  is  in  store  for  us  let  us 
not  hasten  the  catastrophe,  but  rather  await 
quietly  that  dread  reality  which  I  fear  must 
be,  when  that  institution  which  we  believe 
was  the  best  guarantee  of  the  most  perfect 
order  and  the  most  absolute  liberty  shall  have 
disappeared." 

Senor  Castelar  again  insisted  that  the  prop- 
osition did  not  imply  distrust  of  the  Govern- 
ment, that,  on  the  contrary,  it  was  a  measure 
of  precaution  to  strengthen  its  hands  in  the 
critical  moments  they  were  traversing.  The 
President  of  the  council  had  accused  them  of 
wishing  to  forestall  the  reconsideration  of 
the  King  ;  but  what  idea  had  His  Excellency 
of  the  dignity  and  firmness  of  the  Monarch  ! 
The  King  could  not  recall  his  resolution,  and 
consequently  the  Cortes  could  not  occupy 
itself  with  his  reflections,  or  sacrifice  the 
welfare  of  the  country  to  personal  questions. 

Seiior  Figueras  expressed  the  same  senti- 
ments. He  added  that  he  did  not  insist  that 
the  Cabinet  should  remain  in  the  Chamber ; 
nor  was  it  necessary  that  those  deputies  who 
did  not  share  his  apprehensions  should  re- 
main there.  He  did  not  propose  any  deliber- ' 
ation  ;  they  would  remain  without  action, 
but  organized  and  ready  for  action.     Should 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        221 

his  proposition  be  refused  he  predicted  duys 
of  bloodshed  and  mourning  for  Madrid,  the 
responsibility  of  which  would  be  on  the  heads 
of  those  who  so  obstinately  refused  so  just  a 
remedy. 

A  pause  followed  and  it  became  apparent 
that  the  Cabinet  was  not  of  one  mind  as  to 
the  course  to  be  pursued.  Zorrilla  and 
Martos  disagreed  as  to  the  expediency  of 
yielding  to  the  demand  for  a  permanent 
session,  and  the  latter  was  about  to  leave  the 
ministerial  bench  but  was  dissuaded  from  so 
doing  by  his  colleagues,  and  reluctantly  re- 
sumed his  seat.  Whereupon  Senor  Zorrilla 
arose,  and  repelling  all  efforts  to  detain  him 
abruptly  left  the  Chamber. 

Senor  Martos  again  requested  Senor 
Figueras  to  explain  the  exact  nature  of  his 
proposition,  which  the  republican  deputy  pro- 
ceeded to  do  in  very  nearly  the  same  words 
which  have  been  above  quoted. 

"  Senor  Figueras  desires  that,  without  ac- 
tion, we  remain  assembled  here,  prepared  for 
any  contingency,  the  flag  flying  over  the 
palace  as  Ihe  sign  that  the  Chamber  is  in 
session  I  "  petulantly  exclaimed  the  Minister. 
"  Well,  then,  Avould  to  God  that  with  the 
same   facility  we  might    settle  the   difficul- 


222        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

ties  of  to-day  and  those  that  may  come  to- 
morrow." 

Congress  immediately  ordered  a  permanent 
session  without  deliberation,  the  presiding 
officers  to  remain  in  the  Chamber  attended 
by  a  special  committee  appointed  for  the  pur- 
pose. 

At  nine  o'clock  the  session  was  suspended 
"  pro  forma "  after  a  sitting  of  six  hours' 
duration. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

Aspect  of  Madrid  during  period  of  uncertainty.— Plans  of  the 
Royal  Family.— Cortes  resumes  session.— Amadeus  sends  his 
message  of  abdication  to  Cortes.— The  text  of  same.— Senate 
summoned  to  take  part  in  deliberations.— The  Government 
resigns  its  powers  to  Cortes.— Message  of  the  Cortes  to 
Amadeus.— Committee  appointed  to  escort  King  to  frontier. 
—Sovereignty  of  the  Assembly.— Declaration  of  the  Republic. 

DuKiNG  the  course  of  the  afternoon  and 
evening  the  principal  thoroughfares  of  the 
capital  became  densely  thronged  with  the 
multitudes  eagerly  awaiting  news  of  the  ac- 
tion of  the  Cortes. 

The  Puerta  del  Sol,  the  true  forum  of  Mad- 
rid, the  centre  of  popular  agitation  or  gossip, 
was  a  seething  mass  of  human  beings.  In  the 
caf^s,  from  the  balconies,  from  the  parapet 
of  the  great  fountain  in  the  square,  improvised 
politicians  harangued  little  knots  of  sym- 
pathizers or  those  drawn  merely  by  curiosity 
to  the  accepted  meeting-place.  The  tension 
was  extreme,  for  although  it  was  very  gen- 
erally admitted  that  the  debate  in  the  Cortes 

could  have  but  one  result,  opinions  varied  as 
223 


224        TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

to  the  means  which  would  be  employed  for 
the  establisliment  of  the  Republic,  while  ex- 
citement was  kept  at  the  highest  pitch  by  a 
feeling  of  uncertainty  as  to  the  possible  ac- 
tion of  those  still  nominally  in  power  at  the 
Eoyal  Palace.  Nor  were  those  idle  who  from 
selfish  motives  maliciously  circulated  rumors 
of  the  King's  decision  to  revoke  his  abdica- 
tion, and,  if  necessary,  employ  force  to  vindi- 
cate the  prerogatives  of  his  dynasty.  To 
these  the  rabble  lent  a  not  unwilling  ear, 
scenting  in  the  prospect  of  strife  and  disorder 
opportunities  denied  them  alike  by  monarchi- 
cal or  republican  institutions. 

In  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  Pal- 
ace of  the  Cortes  the  multitude  was  most  com- 
pact, and  consisted  largely  of  those  who  took 
a  more  intelligent  interest  in  the  proceedings 
of  the  legislative  body  assembled  within  its 
walls.  To  these  republican  deputies  showed 
themselves  at  intervals  from  the  windows  and 
balconies,  giving  out  scraps  of  information  of 
the  tenor  and  progress  of  the  debate  going 
on  within.  The  leaders  issued  a  printed 
address  which  was  posted  in  all  parts  of  the 
city,  assuring  their  partisans  of  a  prompt  and 
peaceful  republican  solution  of  the  crisis,  and 
exhorting  the  populace  to  remain  calm  ;  urg- 


THE  SAClilFICE  OF  A  TUBONE.        225 

ing  the  necessity  of  avoidance  of  all  unlawful 
demonstrations.  While  the  Government  had 
made  known  to  the  military  and  civil  au- 
thorities throughout  the  Kingdom  the  prob- 
able abdication  of  the  Sovereign,  and  urged 
that  all  possible  measures  and  precautions 
for  the  maintenance  of  order  be  adopted,  the 
republican  leaders  had  taken  care  to  advise 
their  friends  and  adherents  in  tlie  provinces 
of  the  favorable  aspect  of  affairs  for  their 
cause,  imitating  the  Government  in  their 
exhortations  for  the  observance  of  patience 
and  calm. 

The  Royal  Palace  was  enveloped  in  gloom, 
although  a  continual  stream  of  ministers, 
statesmen  and  military  and  civil  dignitaries, 
flowed  through  its  huge  portals.  The  King 
was  busily  occupied  in  the  preparation  of  the 
Message  by  which  he  was  to  make  known  to 
the  Cortes  on  the  morrow  his  formal  abdica- 
tion of  the  throne  on  which  they  liad  placed 
him.  In  the  private  apartments,  in  sj^ite  of 
the  Queen's  illness,  preparations  were  rapidly 
being  made  for  departure,  it  having  been  de- 
cided that  the  King  and  royal  family  should 
start  at  the  earliest  possible  moment  for  Lis- 
bon, where  Amadens'  younger  sister,  Queen 
Maria  Pia,  offered  a  warm  hospitality. 
IS 


226        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

The  Government,  without  making  any  un- 
timely display  of  military  force,  had  provided 
amply  for  the  preservation  of  the  King's  per- 
son, as  well  as  that  of  the  palace,  from  any 
possible  attack  by  a  misguided  mob.  Detach- 
ments of  the  citizen-militia  guarded  the  vari- 
ous public  buildings,  and  occupied  the  most 
thickly  crowded  quarters.  The  main  body 
of  the  garrison  was,  however,  kept  in  barracks 
although  under  arms.  In  spite  of  the  general 
tension  the  hours  of  the  night  passed,  and 
the  dawn  of  the  eventful  eleventh  of  February 
broke  without  the  public  tranquillity  having 
been  seriously  disturbed. 

On  suspending  the  sitting  the  night  be- 
fore the  President  had  convoked  the  Cham- 
ber at  three  o'clock  on  the  following  day. 
At  the  appointed  hour,  on  Tuesday,  Febru- 
ary eleventh,  Senor  Rivero  called  the  House  to 
order,  and  stated  that  the  following  communi- 
cation had  been  received  from  the  Govern- 
ment: 

"To  THE  President  of  the  Chamber  of 

Deputies  : 

"Your  Excellency:     At  half-past  one 

this  afternoon,  accompanied  by  the  Minister 

of  State,  I  presented  myself  in  the  royal  cham- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUllOyE.        227 

bers,  in  compliance  with  His  Majesty's  re- 
quest, and  received  from  the  King  the  inclosed 
document,  which  I  have  the  honor  to  trans- 
mit to  Your  Excellency,  in  order  that  it  may 
be  communicated  to  Congress." 

(Signed)      "  Manuel  Ruiz  Zoreilla. 
"  Madrid, 

"  February  11,  1873." 

Amidst  respectful  silence,  in  an  atmosphere 
of  intense  suppressed  emotion,  the  secretary 
read  the  abdication  of  the  King,  couched  in 
the  following  words  : 

"  To  The  Chamber  : 

"  Great  was  the  honor  bestowed  upon  me 
by  the  Spanish  nation  when  it  elected  me  to  oc- 
cupy its  throne,  an  honor  all  the  more  appre- 
ciated by  me  since  it  was  offered  to  me  en- 
vironed by  the  difficulties  and  dangers  which 
accompany  the  task  of  governing  a  country 
so  deeply  agitated. 

"Animated,  however,  by  the  firmness  of 
purpose  natural  to  my  race,  which  seeks  rather 
than  shuns  danger ;  fully  determined  to  seek 
my  sole  inspiration  in  the  good  of  the  country, 
and  to  raise  myself  above  all  party  level ; 
resolved  to  fulfil  religiously  the  oath  I  took 


228        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

before  the  Constituent  Cortes ;  and  ready  to 
make  all  manner  of  sacrifices  in  order  to  give 
to  this  heroic  nation  the  peace  it  needs,  the 
freedom  it  deserves,  and  the  greatness  to 
which  its  glorious  history  and  the  uprightness 
and  constancy  of  its  sons  entitle  it,  I  thought 
that  my  limited  experience  in  the  art  of 
governing  would  be  compensated  for  by  the 
loyalty  of  my  nature,  and  that  I  should  find 
powerful  aid  in  warding  off  the  dangers  and 
conquering  the  difficulties,  that  were  not 
hidden  from  my  view,  in  the  sympathy  of  all 
those  Spaniards  who,  loving  their  native  land, 
were  desirous  of  putting  an  end  to  the  bloody 
and  barren  struggles  which  for  so  many  years 
have  been  gnawing  at  its  vitals. 

"  I  realize  that  my  good  intentions  have  been 
in  vain.  For  two  long  years  have  I  worn  the 
Crown  of  Spain,  and  Spain  still  lives  in  con- 
tinual strife,  departing  day  by  day  more 
widely  from  that  era  of  peace  and  prosperity 
for  which  I  have  so  ardently  yearned.  Had 
the  enemies  to  her  happiness  been  foreigners, 
then,  at  the  head  of  our  valiant  and  tried 
soldiers,  I  would  have  been  the  first  to  give 
them  battle.  But  all  those  who,  with  sword 
and  pen  and  speech,  aggravate  and  perj^etu- 
ate  the  troubles  of  the  nation,  are  Spaniards ; 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        229 

they  all  invoke  the  hallowed  name  of  country  ; 
they  all  strive  and  labor  for  its  well-being ; 
and,  amidst  the  din  of  combat,  amidst  the 
confused,  appalling,  and  contradictory  clamor 
of  the  contestants,  amidst  so  many  and  so 
widely  opposed  manifestations  of  public  opin- 
ion it  is  impossible  to  choose  the  right,  and 
still  more  impossible  to  find  a  remed}"  for  such 
vast  evils.  I  have  earnestly  sought  a  remedy 
within  the  bounds  of  law.  Beyond  this  limit 
he  who  is  pledged  to  obey  the  law  has  no 
right  to  go. 

"  None  will  attribute  my  determination  to 
weakness  of  spirit.  No  danger  could  move 
me  to  take  off  the  Crown  from  my  brow  if  I 
believed  that  I  wore  it  for  my  country's  good. 
Neither  have  I  been  influenced  by  the  peril 
that  threatened  the  life  of  my  august  wife 
who,  in  this  solemn  moment,  joins  me  in  the 
earnest  hope  that  in  good  time  free  pardon 
may  be  given  to  the  authors  of  that  at- 
tempt. 

"  Nevertheless,  I  am  to-day  firmly  convinced 
of  the  barrenness  of  my  efforts  and  the 
impossibility  of  realizing  my  aims. 

"  These,  Deputies,  are  the  reasons  that 
move  me  to  give  back  to  the  Nation,  and  in 
its  name  to  you,  the  Crown  offered  to  me  by 


230       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  national  suffrage,  renouncing  it  for  my- 
self, my  children,  and  my  successors. 

"  Be  assured  that,  in  relinquishing  the 
Crown,  I  do  not  give  up  my  love  for  this  noble 
and  unhappy  Spain,  and  that  I  bear  away 
with  me  from  hence  no  other  sorrow  than 
that  it  has  not  been  possible  for  me  to  ac- 
complish for  her  all  the  good  my  loyal  heart 
so  earnestly  desired. 

(Signed)  "  Aiviadeus. 
"  Palace  of  Madrid, 
"  February  11, 1873." 

An  impressive  silence  followed  the  read- 
ing of  the  King's  farewell  words  to  the  na- 
tion lie  had  so  honestly  endeavored  to  serve. 
Then  slowly  rising  to  his  feet  the  President 
addressed  the  House  : 

"  Gentlemen  of  the  Chamber :  the  renuncia- 
tion of  the  Crown  of  Spain  by  Don  Amadeo, 
of  Savoy,  remands  to  the  Spanish  Cortes  the 
sovereign  authority  over  the  Kingdom.  This 
event  would  be  grave  if,  in  the  presence  of 
the  majesty  of  the  Cortes,  anything  could 
be  grave  or  difficult.  As  this  Chamber  can- 
not, by  itself,  exercise  the  powers  now  de- 
volved on  Congress,  the  presence  and  co-oper- 
ation of  the  Senate  being  necessary,  I  have 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       231 

the  honor  to  propose  that  a  message  be  ad- 
dressed to  that  body,  which  is  already  pre- 
pared, in  order  that  both  Chambers,  represent- 
ing the  sovereign  authority,  shall  take  such 
action  in  relation  to  the  document  just  read 
as  the  emergency  demands." 

This  motion  having  been  agreed  to  with- 
out debate,  a  brief  recess  was  taken,  pending 
the  arrival  of  the  reply  from  the  Senate ; 
which  was,  however,  not  long  dela3'ed.  Its 
contents  stated  that  the  Senate  considered 
it  necessary  that  the  two  Houses  should  meet 
as  one  Assembly  to  provide  for  the  public 
safety.  A  few  moments  after  the  receipt  of 
this  message,  the  members  of  the  Senate, 
preceded  by  two  mace-bearers,  entered  the 
Chamber.  The  President  of  the  Senate  oc- 
cupied a  seat  to  the  right  of  the  President  of 
the  Chamber,  who  acted  as  presiding  officer 
of  the  Sovereign  Cortes  :  the  senators  seated 
themselves  promiscuously  among  their  col- 
leagues of  the  House.  Secretaries  on  behalf 
of  both  Houses  having  been  selected,  the 
President  declared  that  the  Sovereign  Cortes 
of  Spain  were  organized  and  in  session,  and 
ordered  the  King's  act  of  abdication  to  be 
read  again. 


232       TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  second  reading 
Senor  Martos,  Secretary  of  State,  spoke  as 
follows  :  "  The  President  of  the  Council  of 
Ministers  is  unable  to  present  himself  before 
the  Chambers  in  these  grave,  and  for  us 
most  unhappy  circumstances,  to  address  the 
Sovereign  Cortes  of  Spain.  In  endeavoring, 
as  far  as  I  can,  to  fill  his  place,  I  have  a  few 
words  to  address  you.  Neither  the  weight 
of  responsibility  pressing  upon  me,  nor  the 
solemnity  of  the  situation  surrounding  us 
permits  anything  like  a  speech  from  me  at 
this  moment.  The  occasion  demands  of  us 
prudent,  salutary  and  great  acts.  I  have 
only  to  say  to  you.  Gentlemen,  that  His 
Majesty  the  King  of  Spain,  Don  Amadeo  I. 
of  Savoy,  to  whom  we  still  hold  the  relation 
of  responsible  advisers,  has  announced  to  us 
this  morning  his  irrevocable  resolution  to 
resign  the  Crown  into  the  hands  of  the  Sov- 
ereign Cortes,  the  representatives  of  Spain, 
from  whom  he  received  it.  In  view  of  this 
impressive  circumstance,  it  is  needless  for  me 
to  advert  to  the  obvious  responsibilities  and 
duties  devolving  upon  this  Assembly,  duties 
which  it  cannot  fail  to  comprehend  and  ful- 
fil. With  this  communication.  Gentlemen, 
the  powers  of  the  present  Government  cease. 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        233 

In  the  name  of  my  colleagues,  on  their  behalf 
and  for  myself,  I  now  surrender  the  powers  we 
received  from  the  King  to  this  Assembly, 
which  from  this  moment  becomes  the  sole 
and  only  sovereignty.  May  Almighty  God 
grant  to  all  of  us  the  wisdom  of  which  the 
country  has  need  I  May  all  Spaniards  unite 
with  us,  as  the  country  may  rightfully  de- 
mand of  them,  for  the  salvation  of  liberty  and 
the  guardianship  of  the  interests  of  society." 

The  members  of  the  Cabinet  tlien  left  the 
ministerial  bench  and  took  their  seats  among 
the  deputies. 

Another  pause  followed.  The  voice  of  the 
President  clearly  enunciated  :  "  Do  the  Sov- 
ereign Cortes  accept  the  resignation  of  the 
Crown  tendered  by  Don  Amadeo  of  Savoy  ?  " 

The  resignation  was  accepted  without  a 
dissenting  voice. 

"Do  the  Cortes,"  again  queried  the  Presi- 
dent, "  agree  to  send  a  message  to  this  illus- 
trious Prince,  expressing  their  regret  and  ac- 
cepting the  resignation  ?  " 

This  also  was  agreed  to  unanimously,  as  was 
the  formation  of  a  committee  to  draft  and 
report  a  message.  On  the  committee  figured 
the  names  of  Castelar,  Figueras,  Rivero,  the 


234        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Marquis  of  Sardoal,  and  others.  When  the 
committee  returned  to  the  Chamber  bringing 
with  them  the  report  they  had  prepared, 
Senor  Castelar  requested  that  he  might  be 
allowed  a  word  of  explanation  before  the 
message  was  read.  Naturally,  he  said,  the 
members  of  the  committee  were  not  agreed 
upon  the  terms  in  which  the  address  to  the 
King  should  be  couched.  But  they  under- 
stood it  was  not  a  moment  to  insist  upon 
personal  or  party  sentiments.  It  was  be- 
lieved the  message  was  a  faithful  expression 
of  the  views  of  the  majority  of  the  Sovereign 
Cortes. 

Senor  Castelar  then  himself  read  the  mes- 
sage. 

"  The  National  Assembly  to  His  Maj- 
esty Don  Amadeo  I. 

"  Sire :  The  Sovereign  Cortes  of  the  Span- 
ish Nation  have  heard  with  solemn  respect 
the  eloquent  message  of  Your  Majesty,  in 
whose  chivalrous  words  of  uprightness,  of 
honor,  and  of  loyalt}^  they  have  seen  fresh 
witness  borne  to  the  high  endowments  of 
intelligence  and  character  that  distinguish 
Your  Majesty,  and  of  the  exalted  love  you 
bear   to   this   your    second   country,    which, 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TURONE.        235 

generous  and  brave,  cherishing  its  dignity 
even  to  superstition,  and  its  independence 
even  to  heroism,  can  never,  never  forget  that 
Your  Majesty  has  been  the  head  of  the  State, 
the  personification  of  its  sovereignty,  and  the 
chief  authority  within  the  sphere  of  its  laws  ; 
nor  can  it  fail  to  discern  that,  in  offering 
honor  and  praise  to  Your  Majesty,  it  honors 
and  ennobles  itself. 

"  Sire :  The  Cortes  have  been  faithful  to  the 
commands  of  their  constituents,  and  guard- 
ians of  the  institutions  they  found  already 
established  by  the  will  of  the  nation  in  the 
Constitutional  Assembly.  In  all  their  acts 
and  decisions  the  Cortes  have  restrained 
themselves  within  the  bounds  of  their  pre- 
rogatives, and  have  respected  the  will  of 
Your  Majesty  and  the  rights  belonging  to 
Your  Majesty  under  our  constitution.  While 
proclaiming  this  loudly  and  clearly,  in  order 
that  upon  them  may  never  fall  the  responsi- 
bility of  this  issue,  which  we  accept  Avith  re- 
gret, but  which  we  shall  meet  with  energy, 
the  Cortes  unanimously  declare  that  Your 
Majesty  has  been  a  faithful,  a  most  faithful, 
observer  of  the  respect  due  to  these  Chambers, 
and  that  you  have  faithfully,  most  faithfully, 
kept  the  oath  made  when  Your  Majesty  ac- 


236        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THEONE. 

cepted  from  the  hands  of  the  people  the 
Crown  of  Spain :  a  glorious,  a  most  glorious, 
record,  in  this  age  of  ambitious  and  dictatorial 
sway,  when,  seated  on  the  inaccessible 
heights  of  a  throne,  which  only  a  few  privi- 
leged ones  ascend,  the  least  adventurous  of 
rulers  have  not  restrained  their  ambition  for 
absolute  authority. 

"  Your  Majesty  may  justly  say,  in  the  pri- 
vacy of  your  retirement,  in  the  bosom  of  your 
lovely  laud,  and  by  the  fireside  of  your 
family,  that  if  any  human  being  could  have 
checked  the  irresistible  course  of  events,  Your 
Majesty,  with  your  constitutional  education 
and  your  respect  for  established  law,  would 
have  done  so,  absolutely  and  completely. 
Convinced  of  the  truth  of  this,  the  Cortes, 
had  it  been  in  their  power,  would  have  made 
the  utmost  sacrifices  to  induce  Your  Majesty 
to  desist  from  your  purpose,  and  to  recall  your 
renunciation, 

"  But,  knowing  as  they  do  the  unswerv- 
ing character  of  Your  Majesty,  justice  to  the 
maturity  of  your  ideas,  and  the  firmness  of 
your  purpose,  prevents  the  Cortes  from  pray- 
ing Your  Majesty  to  reconsider  your  deter- 
mination, and  decides  them  to  announce  that 
they  have  assumed  the  Supreme  Power  and 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        237 

Sovereignty  of  the  Nation,  in  order  that,  under 
such  critical  circumstances,  and  with  the 
promptness  demanded  by  the  gravity  of  the 
peril  and  the  transcendency  of  the  situation, 
they  may  minister  to  the  salvation  of  democ- 
racy— the  base  of  our  political  structure  of 
liberty — the  soul  of  all  our  rights  and  of  the 
country — our  immortal  and  loving  mother, 
for  whom  we  are  all  resolved  to  freely  sacri- 
fice not  only  our  individual  ideas  but  also 
our  name  and  our  very  existence. 

"  Our  fathers  battled  with  even  more  ad- 
verse circumstances  at  the  beginning  of  this 
century,  and,  inspired  by  these  ideas  and 
these  sentiments,  it  was  given  them  to  con- 
quer. Abandoned  by  their  King,  their 
native  soil  overrun  by  foreign  hosts,  and 
menaced  by  that  giant  mind  that  seemed  to 
possess  the  talisman  of  destruction  and  of 
war,  the  Cortes  driven  to  an  island  at  the 
furthermost  verge  of  the  country,  not  only 
saved  their  fatherland  and  wrote  the  glorious 
epic  of  its  independence,  but,  upon  the  wide- 
scattered  ruins  of  the  old  social  structure, 
they  laid  the  foundation  of  the  new.  The 
Cortes  feel  that  the  Spanish  Nation  has  not 
degenerated,  and  they  trust  that  they  them- 
selves will  still  less  degenerate  from  the  austere 


238        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

and  patriotic  virtues  that  distinguished  the 
founders  of  liberty  in  Spain. 

When  all  dangers  shall  have  been  warded 
off,  and  all  obstacles  overcome  ;  when  we 
shall  have  emerged  from  the  difficulties  that 
attend  every  epoch  of  transition  and  of  crisis, 
the  Spanish  people — which,  while  Your  Ma- 
jesty remains  upon  our  noble  soil,  will  offer 
you  every  mark  of  respect,  of  loyalty,  and  of 
deference,  because  it  is  due  alike  to  Your 
Majesty,  to  your  virtuous  and  noble  Consort, 
and  to  your  innocent  children — the  Spanish 
people  cannot  offer  you  a  Crown  in  the  future, 
but  they  will  then  offer  you  another  dignity, 
— the  dignity  of  a  citizen  in  the  midst  of  a 
free  and  independent  people. 

Palace  of  the  Cortes, 
February  11,  1873. 

It  does  not  require  great  perspicuity  to 
trace  the  eloquence  of  Castelar  in  the  rounded 
and  high-sounding  sentences  of  the  address. 
Nor  can  we  wonder  that,  when  declaimed 
with  the  dramatic  force  of  that  incomparable 
orator,  its  deliverance  was  frequently  inter- 
rupted by  "  loud  applause  from  all  parts  of 
the  Chamber."  With  such  a  guarantee  for 
good  conduct  in  his  pocket,  Amadeus  might 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        239 

aspire  to  tlie  suffrages  of  any  throne  Mhich 
happened  to  be  vacant :  unless,  indeed,  he  pre- 
ferred "  the  dignity  of  a  citizen  in  the  midst 
of  a  free  and  independent  people."  This  dig- 
nity he  did  prefer — but  amidst  a  nation 
whose  ideas  of  freedom  and  independence 
differed  materially  from  those  entertained  by 
their  Spanish  cousins,  and  of  the  sincerity  of 
whose  affection  he  was  more  convinced  :  in 
the  bosom  of  his  own  beloved  Italy. 

In  addition  to  appointing  a  committee  to 
present  the  address  to  His  Majesty,  the  Cortes 
proceeded  to  nominate  another  whose  duty 
it  should  be  to  accompany  the  ex-monarch  to 
the  Spanish  frontier.  These  formalities  ac- 
complished. President  Rivero  resumed  the 
chair, — and  announced  that  a  proposition 
was  in  his  hands  to  be  submitted  to  the 
Chamber. 

"  We  are  approaching  a  solemn  moment  in 
the  national  history  ;  "  urged  Senor  Rivero. 
"  I  count  upon  your  calmness,  dignity  and 
prudence,  since  these  are  the  virtues  of 
Sovereignty." 

The  proposition,  signed  by  seven  of  the 
most  influential  republican  names,  asked  "Con- 
gress to  approve  tliat  the  National  Assembly, 
assuming  all  power,  declare  that  the  form  of 


240        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

government  of  the  nation  be  republican,  re- 
mitting to  a  Constituent  Convention  the  or- 
ganization of  this  form  of  government ;  and 
further  that  the  Assembly  choose  an  Execu- 
tive, removable  by  and  responsible  to  the 
Chamber. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

Patriotic  attitude  of  monarchical  deputies  in  voting  for  Re- 
public—Seuor  Pi  y  Margall's  remarks.— The  debate  declared 
open. — Late  Cabinet  requested  to  resume  administrative 
functions  temporarily.- Refusal  of  Senores  Zorrilla  and 
Martos.— Qualification  of  votes  to  be  cast  by  leaders  of  vari- 
ous parties. — Radicals  disclaim  initiative  in  establishing  Re- 
public—ZorrUla's  profession  of  faith.— Castelar  speaks. 
The  vote.— Figueras  chosen  President  of  the  Republic. 

Although  convinced  of  the  present  neces- 
sity for  a  republican  form  of  government, 
a  large  number  of  the  deputies  who  would 
shortly  be  called  upon  to  cast  their  vote  in 
favor  of  this  system  were  determined  to  do 
so  on  purely  patriotic  grounds,  thereby  mak- 
ing their  political  creed  subservient  to  the 
immediate  exigencies  demanded  by  the  critical 
situation  of  their  country. 

That  a  serious  conflict  must  result  between 
the  party  of  progress,  rallying  under  the  re- 
publican flag,  and  the  reaction  symbolized 
in  the  person  of  the  young  Prince  Alfonso, 
son  of  Queen  Isabella,  had  been  anticipated 

by  those  who  watched  the  gradual  decline  of 
16  241 


242        TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

the  star  of  the  Savoy  dynasty.  But  it  had 
also  been  foreseen,  and  duly  admitted  that, 
reinforced  as  the  republicans  would  be  by 
the  adhesion  of  influential  men,  not  hereto- 
fore acting  with  that  party,  a  temporary 
triumph  of  the  republican  principles  must 
result.  In  other  words,  many  monarchists 
were  inclined  to  look  upon  the  Republic 
as  the  means  and  not  the  end  of  their 
dynastic  aspiration.  Time  has  proved  these 
political  forecasts  to  have  been  well  found- 
ed. Again  many  of  those  who  served  the 
Savoy  dynasty  were  at  heart  republican  in 
their  sympathies.  A  close  observer,  and 
one  who  appreciated  the  subtle  distinctions 
of  the  Spanish  politics  of  the  earl}'^  seventies, 
has  said  that,  between  Rivero,  Martos  and 
Becerra  on  the  one  hand,  and  Castelar, 
Figueras  and  Pi  y  Margall  on  the  other,  the 
line  of  demarcation  was  rather  one  of  party 
association  than  of  ideas  or  ulterior  purposes. 
They  were  all  republicans,  the  former  mak- 
ing a  detour  by  a  path  that  was  soon  to  in- 
tersect the  straight  road  taken  by  the  latter. 
Collantes  recognized  the  necessity  of  a  re- 
publican interregnum  ;  but  he  did  not  aban- 
don his  allegiance  to  the  Bourbon  dynasty 
when   he    assured    the   republicans   that   he 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THROyE.        243 

would  neither  stint  liis  applause  nor  refuse 
his  sympathy  if  the  country  was  happy  and 
prosperous  under  their  r($gime.  The  policy 
he  advocated  to  his  friends  was  to  patiently 
await  their  own  triumph. 

"  The  radicals  have  given  success  to  the 
republicans  ;  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Who  knows 
but  that  the  republicans  may  give  it  to  us  !  " 

His  party  made  no  more  pretence  of  sym- 
pathy with  the  republicans  than  they  had  for 
Amadeus,  yet  they  would  place  no  obstacles 
in  the  way,  should  such  doctrines  be  proved 
compatible  with  the  national  interests.  In 
recognition  of  this  forbearance  he  asked  that 
the  republicans  should  remember  the  con- 
duct of  his  party  to-day  that  tliey  might  fol- 
low it  to-morrow,  should  they  in  turn  fail  in 
their  undertaking. 

In  view  of  the  wide  divergence  of  creed 
held  by  those  taking  leading  parts  in  it,  the 
debate  was  to  prove  of  peculiar  interest. 
Without  a  link  of  real  sympathy,  but  drawn 
together  by  the  common  danger  which  threat- 
ened their  country,  those  thus  temporarily 
united,  while  prepared  to  accept  the  republi- 
can solution  imposed  upon  them  by  the  ab- 
normal condition  of  affairs,  yet  held  them- 
selves free  to  assert  their  own  political  con- 


244        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

victions  at  such  time  as  they  might  deem  op- 
portune. The  patriotic  forbearance  of  those 
who  made  the  temporary  sacrifice  of  their 
personal  and  party  convictions,  in  order  to 
save  their  country  from  the  horrors  of  revolu- 
tion and  bloodshed,  is  worthy  of  the  highest 
commendation.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  if 
even  the  most  enthusiastic  republican  leaders 
were  really  deceived  as  to  the  probable  sta- 
bility of  the  system  they  were  so  anxious  to 
inaugurate. 

Before  the  debate  was  declared  open  Senor 
Pi  y  Margall  requested  permission  to  say  a 
few  words  in  explanation  and  support  of  the 
proposition  he  had  signed.  The  ministers 
who  had  received  their  authority  from  the 
hands  of  the  King  had,  he  argued,  disappeared 
with  the  authority  of  the  person  from  whom 
they  derived  their  trust.  But  one  legitmate 
source  of  authority  remained — the  Cortes.  If 
the  Cortes  hold  the  Legislative  Power  they 
must  create  an  Executive.  He  proposed 
that  this  be  chosen  by  a  direct  vote  of  the 
Assembly,  and  that  it  be  charged  with  the 
duty  of  enforcing  the  decrees  issued  by  the 
Cortes.  A  return  to  monarchical  principles 
was  impossible  after  such  repeated  failure. 
A   constitutional    monarchy   had    been    es- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        245 

tablished  in  the  person  of  a  Queen  by  divine 
riglit — yet  it  could  not  be  reconciled  with 
liberty,  and  the  Queen  was  banished.  An 
attempt  was  then  made  to  establish  an  elec- 
tive monarchy  and  a  King  impersonating  it 
was  chosen.  This  Sovereign  now  confessed 
himself  unable  to  overcome  the  rancor  of 
parties,  or  the  discord  devastating  the  country. 
Dissensions  had  multiplied  :  animosities  had 
spread  and  extended  even  to  the  parties  that 
made  the  revolution  of  September,  1868. 
Those  M^ho  had  established  the  great  principle 
of  national  sovereignty  in  the  people,  could 
not  do  less  than  accept  a  form  of  government 
compatible  with  this  principle  ;  and  this  could 
not  be  found  in  a  monarchy  which  circum- 
scribes the  power  in  the  hands  of  a  single 
famil)\  What  was  needed  were  movable 
powers :  the  Executive  should  be  so  consti- 
tuted that  it  be  ever  in  harmony  with  the  ideas 
of  the  Spanish  people,  and  this  the  Republic 
alone  could  accomplish.  He  and  his  party 
considered  that  this  should  take  the  form  of 
a  federation,  but  for  the  present  he  would  be 
satisfied  witli  the  proclamation  of  a  Republic, 
leaving  to  a  Constitutional  Convention,  to  be 
chosen  later,  the  duty  of  defining  the  organiza- 
tion and  form  of  the  Republic. 


246        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

The  debate  liaving  been  declared  open, 
Senor  Romeo  Ortiz,  speaking  on  behalf  of  his 
party,  stated,  that  although  it  could  not  be 
expected  of  those  who  were  monarchists  by 
conviction,  that  they  should  abandon  their 
ideas  and  suddenly  turn  republicans,  still  they 
were  nevertheless  disposed  to  lend  loyal  and 
sincere  support  to  the  power  that  might  be 
created  to  preserve  public  order,  and  maintain 
the  integrity  of  the  territory. 

A  discussion  then  arose  between  the  Presi- 
dent and  Seiior  Zorrilla,  which  latter  main- 
tained that  since  the  resignation  of  the  late 
Cabinet  considerable  peril  threatened  them 
as  there  was  no  one  now  responsible  for  pub- 
lic safety,  or  in  a  position  to  issue  instructions 
to  military  or  civil  functionaries  in  the 
provinces. 

Senor  Rivero  contended  that  after  the  late 
ministry  resigned  their  powers  into  the  hands 
of  the  Assembly,  that  body  exercised  them. 
In  his  opinion,  when  the  Sovereign  Assembly 
undertook  the  functions  of  government,  his 
own  authority  as  President  should  be  sufH- 
cient  until  another  was  named.  But  he  con- 
sidered that  he  had  a  right  to  call  upon  the 
retiring  ministers  to  assist  him  in  tlie  preser- 
vation  of   order  until  their  successors  were 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       247 

named.  Should  disturbances  arise  in  Madrid 
or  the  provinces,  he  would  rely  upon  the  minis- 
ters to  suppress  them  during  the  short  period 
in  which  their  assistance  would  be  necessary. 
In  order  not  to  delay  the  progress  of  the  de- 
bate he  proposed  that  the  late  Cabinet  resume 
their  seats  on  the  ministerial  bench,  exercis- 
ing Executive  functions  until  the  Assembly 
name  their  successors. 

This  proposition  was  approved  by  the 
Chamber,  but  Senores  Zorrilla  and  Martos  at 
once  sprang  to  their  feet  in  vigorous  protest. 
They  were,  however,  called  to  order,  and  again 
requested,  in  the  name  of  the  country  and  of 
the  National  Assembly,  to  take  tlieir  places 
on  the  ministerial  bench,  and  discharge  the 
functions  of  their  separate  offices.  Further 
signs  of  protest  being  apparent  the  President 
declared  that  the  question  was  not  debatable, 
and,  in  the  name  of  the  Assembly,  and  to  sup- 
port its  authority,  insisted  that  the  late  Minis- 
ters obey.  This  led  to  an  outburst  of  indigna- 
tion. Zorrilla  stoutly  maintained  that  he  had 
resigned;  Martos  demanded  the  right  to 
speak  from  his  seat  as  a  deputy  ;  Las  Cuevas 
accused  the  President  of  assuming  a  dictator- 
ship; while  Figueras  clamored  for  the  As- 
sembly to  confine  its  discussion  to  the  choice 


248        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THE  ONE. 

of  a  Government.  In  the  confusion  Senor 
Rivero  attempted  to  defend  his  position,  but 
with  difficulty  succeeded  in  making  himself 
understood  to  the  effect  that  he  had  relied  on 
the  patriotism  of  the  late  Cabinet  to  discharge 
its  function  until  the  appointment  of  its  suc- 
cessor. 

Martos  continued  to  demand  the  floor, 
which  was  finally  ceded  him.  He  claimed 
that  in  the  discussion  he  had  only  insisted 
on  his  right  as  a  deputy,  which  had  at  last 
been  conceded  to  him  after  an  undue  resist- 
ance that  might  have  been  wisely  avoided. 
He  regretted  that  tyranny  should  begin  the 
very  day  the  monarchy  disappeared. 

At  these  words,  in  spite  of  the  protests 
and  efforts  to  detain  him,  President  Rivero 
sprang  from  his  seat  and,  confiding  the  Chair 
to  Senor  Figuerola,  President  of  the  Senate, 
abruptly  left  tlie  Chamber. 

Senor  Martos  then  proceeded  to  explain 
more  calmly  the  position  of  the  late  Cabinet 
which,  he  said,  was  incapable  of  declining  any 
responsibility,  above  all  under  such  difficult 
circumstances.  But  they  could  not  accede 
to  the  imperious  demand  made  upon  them. 
His  own  right  as  a  deputy  had  been  attacked, 
and  he  had  simply  defended  it.     The  King's 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRO  249 

authority  liaving  ceased  by  reason  of  his  ab- 
dication, their  resignations  had  been  given 
to  the  Cortes,  the  sovereignty  of  which 
Assembly  they  recognized.  Had  the  request 
for  them  to  reassume  their  functions  been 
made  in  a  different  tone,  they  might  liave 
yielded  to  the  desire  and  vote  of  the  Sovereign 
Assembly.  Senor  Martos  stated  further  that 
the  executive  duties  springing  out  of  the  pres- 
ent situation  devolved  upon  the  Presidency 
of  the  Cortes,  resting  at  the  same  time  upon 
each  and  every  member  of  tliat  body.  For 
the  maintenance  of  public  order  means  were 
at  the  disposition  of  the  representative  of 
the  Cortes,  or  of  whomsoever  might  be 
charged  with  the  exercise  of  its  powers.  In 
conclusion,  he  begged  to  be  allowed  to  with- 
draw the  hai'sh  expressions  he  had  uttered 
in  defence  of  his  rights  as  a  deputy. 

To  the  appeal  from  President  Figuerola, 
who  stated  that  he  recognized  the  motives  of 
delicacy  which  caused  the  members  of  the 
retiring  Cabinet  to  hesitate  to  resume  their 
functions,  and  the  inability  of  the  Assembly 
to  oblige  them  to  do  so,  but  who  at  the  same 
time  urged  them  to  lay  aside  all  questions  of 
form,  and,  by  taking  their  places  on  the 
ministerial  bench,  provide  the  necessary  safe- 


250        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

guards  for  public  order,  Senor  Martos  replied 
that  this  course  was  not  necessary.  The 
public  business,  he  added,  was  being  trans- 
acted through  the  under-secretaries  of  the 
various  departments,  while  General  Cordova, 
not  as  Minister,  but  as  General  of  the  army 
and  as  a  patriot,  was  present  in  the  Ministry 
of  War,  guarding  the  interests  confided  to  its 
charge. 

These  explanations  having  given  satisfac- 
tion, the  late  Minister  stated  that  the  Cabinet 
would  prefer  not  to  occupy  the  ministerial 
bench,  because  of  the  important  measures 
about  to  be  adopted,  in  the  debate  concern- 
ing which  the  members  desired  to  take  part 
in  their  capacity  as  deputies.  The  incident 
being  declared  terminated  the  discussion  was 
resumed  on  the  main  proposition. 

The  leaders  of  vaiious  parties  now  claimed 
permission  to  qualify  the  votes  they  would 
shortly  cast. 

The  Marquis  de  Bazzanallana,  of  the  Senate, 
said  that  they  were  asked  to  vote  a  form  of 
government  he  and  his  friends  had  never  be- 
lieved in  :  to  assist  in  establishing  a  Republic. 
But  they  would  bow  their  heads  before  the 
current  of  events,  and  overlook  irregularities 
to  which  they  had  in  no  manner  contributed. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        251 

Inspired  only  by  sentiments  of  patriotism, 
they  offered  their  co-operation  to  the  end 
that  the  government  which  was  to  be  estab- 
lished should  be  strong,  and  have  the  neces- 
sary means  to  assure  order  and  peace  to  their 
unfortunate  country.  During  the  century 
the  republic  was  the  only  form  of  govern- 
ment not  yet  tried  in  Spain.  God  grant  that 
the  republican  party  be  proved  to  include  in 
its  ranks  not  only  great  orators  but  also  great 
statesmen  ! 

The  speaker  was  followed  by  the  young 
Marquis  de  Sardoal,  who  had  already  made 
his  mark  as  an  able  and  brilliant  debater,  and 
who  rose  to  explain  the  meaning  of  the  votes 
his  friends  would  give. 

"  You  will  understand,  "  he  said,  "  that  hav- 
ing been  monarchists  yesterday,  we  continue  to 
be  so  to-day ;  that  those  of  us  who  have  here- 
tofore believed  liberty  compatible  with  mon- 
archy do  not  admit  that  the  accident  of  the 
abdication  of  the  late  King  has  affected  the 
principle  which  constitutes  the  foundation  of 
our  opinions.  We  cannot  say  to  those  w'ho 
have  always  been  republicans  that  our  mon- 
archical faith  is  impaired.  Such  a  declara- 
tion would  justify  your   suspicions,  and  we 


252        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TBBONE. 

de-ire  to  retain  your  respect.  The  situation 
is  difficult,  the  country  and  social  order  are 
menaced  and  impel  us  to  action  ;  we  shall 
yield  to  the  exigency,  as  far  as  our  dignity 
permits,  because  we  hold  above  our  opinions 
and  antecedents  the  welfare  of  Spain.  Com- 
prehending that  the  monarchy  we  have  de- 
fended is  now  impossible ;  comprehending 
that  monarchy  is  not  an  abstraction  and  can 
only  be  realized  in  the  establishment  of  a 
dynasty,  and  this  being  here,  and  now,  im- 
practicable, we  vote  the  Republic.  .  .  .  We 
are  not  among  those  who  will  pretend  to 
march  with  your  leaders.  We  shall  be  with 
you  as  soldiers  in  the  ranks,  uniting  with 
you  in  the  love  of  country  and  of  liberty  and 
social  order.  Our  vote  has  still  another  as- 
pect. Foregoing  forms  which,  under  other 
circumstances,  we  might  deem  indispensable, 
we  recognize  the  imperative  necessity  of  de- 
positing the  Government,  now  abandoned,  in 
some  hands,  and,  therefore,  we  shall  vote  the 
Republic ;  but  with  the  understanding  that 
your  power  will  not  extend  beyond  the  mo- 
ment when  the  Constitutional  Convention 
that  will  be  elected  shall  have  met  and  shall 
have  determined  the  form  of  government  to 
be  permanently  founded.  .  .  ." 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        253 

The  speaker  believed  the  course  taken  by 
his  party  to  be  honorable,  yielding  as  they 
did,  for  the  present,  their  opinions  to  the 
general  welfare  of  the  country  and  the  con- 
solidation of  its  liberties. 

Senor  Martos  considered  that  they  were 
all  giving  an  example  unparalleled  in  history  : 
without  violence,  without  tumult,  without 
the  effusion  of  blood,  without  external  pres- 
sure, a  free  vote  would  be  taken,  uninfluenced 
by  a  single  act  of  force.  What  the  Marquis 
de  Sardoal  had  said  for  himself  and  some  of 
his  friends  might  have  been  declared  in  the 
name  of  the  whole  radical  i^arty :  they  cer- 
tainly had  not  desired  the  events  they  were 
witnessing  and  which  they  bitterly  deplored: 
believing  as  they  did  in  the  salvation  of 
liberty  with  the  Savoy  dynasty,  they  were 
undergoing  no  sudden  transformation  of  opin- 
ions. They  had  taken  no  initiative  in  pro- 
posing the  republic  :  it  was  the  right  of  the 
professed  republicans  to  take  such  initiative. 
"  I  rejoice,"  he  exclaimed,  •'  that  the  repub- 
lican party  receives  us,  and  I  rejoice  in  this 
above  all  for  the  sake  of  the  country  and  of 
liberty.  But  let  it  be  understood  that,  in 
contributing  to  your  ends,  we  have  only  con- 
sulted our  duty.     I  respect  all  opinions,  as  I 


254        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

desire  that  mine  may  be  respected.  I  say, 
without  taking  an  initiative  in  the  proposition 
under  discussion,  that  we  accept  it  and  shall 
vote  it.  The  republic  will  be  order  and 
peace.  And  herein  we  are  united — the  repub- 
licans of  yesterday  and  the  monarchists  of 
to-day  are  all  republicans  from  to-morrow, 
to  save  democracy,  liberty,  and  all  the  in- 
terests of  society."  Seiior  Zorrilla  again 
claimed  the  attention  of  his  colleagues,  and 
gave  his  reasons  for  declining  to  occupy 
his  seat  on  the  Government  bench.  He 
could  not  accept  the  republic,  he  stated, 
although  all  his  sympathies  were  with  those 
on  the  side  of  liberty.  This  would  see 
the  end  of  his  political  career ;  once  before 
he  had  desired  to  end  it,  but  had  been  per- 
suaded against  his  will  to  return  to  public 
life.  No  one  could  appreciate  what  he  had 
suffered  during  the  last  eight  days.  Now 
that  he  was  about  to  retire  into  private  life,  he 
wished  to  conclude  by  defining  his  position. 
"  I  believe,"  he  began,  "  that  he  who,  as  Pres- 
ident of  the  Constituent  Cortes,  most  of  all 
influenced  the  establishment  of  the  Monarchy ; 
that  he  who  went  to  Italy  to  offer  the  Crown 
to  the  Duke  of  Aosta;  that  he  who  has  been 
Minister  of  the  King,  and  twice  President  of 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A   TIUIONE.        255 

the  Council  of  Ministers  ;  that  he  who  has 
given  the  pledges  that  I  have  given,  and 
who  is  placed  in  the  situation  in  which  I  find 
myself ;  that  he  who  cherishes  the  personal 
regard  that  I  have  professed  for  the  late  King 
— and  ray  colleagues  know  it  well — for  they 
know  that  I  have  supported  the  dynasty  and 
monarchy  in  the  Tertulia  Club,  and  that  I 
have  been  a  liberal  and  radical  in  the  palace ; 
he  who  has  been  thus  placed,  and  who  now 
finds  himself  here,  and  who  after  all  this  lias 
no  faith,  as  I  have  had  none  for  a  year  or 
more,  neither  in  parties  nor  in  men,  could 
have  no  motive  under  existing  circumstances 
for  remaining  in  public  life  unless  he  believed 
he  could  in  some  manner  contribute  to  the 
triumph  and  consolidation  of  liberty.  I  retire, 
then.  Gentlemen,  to  private  life ;  but  I  can- 
not do  less  than  add  a  few  more  words,  for 
one  cannot  abandon  in  a  moment  the  inclina- 
tions and  the  feelings  of  a  lifetime.  My 
party  elected  me  its  chief,  and  those  of  them 
who  are  here,  and  those  wlio  are  elsewhere, 
are  at  liberty  to  adopt  any  opinions  they  find 
agreeable.  As  to  the  situation  of  my  country, 
I  wish  to  record  that  the  only  way  in  which 
republicans  and  monarchists  could  have  allied 
liberty  and  order  was  to  have  supported  res- 


256        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

olutely,  each  within  their  sphere,  the  dynasty 
of  Savoy.  At  the  same  time  I  wish  it  to 
be  recorded  that  neither  the  liberals  nor  the 
republicans  have  overthrown  the  dynasty. 
When  it  was  proposed  to  suspend  the  con- 
stitution upon  the  allegation  that  anarchy 
menaced  the  country,  I  could  not  comprehend 
how  that  Government  could  have  wished  these 
guarantees  suspended,  when  precisely  those 
who  provoked  the  anarchy  were  the  advocates 
of  the  measure.  I  do  not  make  allusions  to 
anybody.  I  conclude :  I  am  a  monarchical 
partisan  of  the  dynasty  of  King  Amadeus,  of 
Savoy.  I  have  been  his  President  of  the 
Council  of  Ministers — and  I  do  not  recognize 
my  right  to  be  anything  else.  I  desire  good 
fortune  and  happiness  for  those  who  are 
here  charged  with  the  duty  of  guarding 
liberty.  All  the  world  knows  where  my 
sympathies  go,  and  I  need  not  affirm  them. 
I  have  done." 

After  a  ringing  speech  from  Seiior  CoUantes, 
quotations  from  which  have  already  been 
given  above,  and  a  short  passage  of  arms 
(frequently  interrupted  by  impatient  cries 
for  a  vote)  between  Sefiores  Zorrilla  and 
Ulloa,   the  latter  having  taken  exception  to 


THE  SACniFICE  OF  A  TUIiONE.        257 

the  insinuation  that  his  party  was  responsible 
for  the  fall  of  the  late  dynasty  ;  Senor  Castelar 
craved  the  indulgence  of  the  Chamber. 
*'  Gentlemen,"  he  cried,  "  The  republican 
party  does  not  claim  the  glory  that  might 
belong  to  it  of  having  destroyed  the  Monarchy. 
Nor  can  we  permit  you  to  throw  upon  us  the 
responsibility  of  this  grave  situation.  No  ; 
nobody  has  destroyed  the  Monarchy  in  Spain  ; 
nobody  has  killed  it !  In  contributing  to 
improve  the  opportunity  before  us  I  cannot 
in  my  conscience  claim  any  merit  in  destroy- 
ing the  Monarchy.  The  Monarchy  died  by 
internal  decomposition.  The  Monarcliy  dies 
without  any  one  having  contributed  to  its 
death.  It  dies  by  the  providence  of  God. 
With  Ferdinand  the  Seventh  fell  the  Tradi- 
tional Monarchy.  With  the  flight  of  Isabella 
the  Second  the  Parliamentary  Monarchy  dis- 
appeared. With  the  renunciation  of  Don 
Amadeo  of  Savoy  the  Elective  Monarchy 
falls.  No  one  destroyed  it.  It  died  of  natural 
causes.  Nobody  has  brought  the  Republic 
into  being.  It  is  the  creation  of  circum- 
stances. It  comes  from  a  conjuncture  of 
Society  and  nature  and  history.  Let  us 
salute  it  as  the  sun  that  rises  by  its  own 
gravitation  on  the  horizon  of  oui*  country." 
17 


258        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE. 

With  this  final  eloquent  metaphor  the  dis- 
cussion was  closed,  and  the  House  proceeded 
to  vote  on  the  first  part  of  the  proposition. 
Two  hundred  and  fifty-eight  deputies  voted 
for  tlie  adoption  of  the  republican  form 
of  government;  thirty-two  against  it.  The 
result  of  the  ballot  having  been  proclaimed, 
Seilor  Figueras  proposed  that  the  result  be  at 
once  communicated  to  the  governor  of  Madrid, 
and  to  the  authorities  of  the  capital  and 
province  :  that  the  same  be  telegraphed  to 
the  civil  and  military  chiefs  throughout  the 
country,  and  that  those  foreign  Governments 
with  which  Spain  entertained  friendly  rela- 
tions be  advised  of  the  change  of  her  form  of 
government. 

The  second  proposition,  which  provided 
for  the  nomination  of  an  Executive,  to  be 
named  directly  by  the  Assembly,  was  then 
approved  without  a  division. 

At  a  quarter-past  nine  the  session  was 
suspended  for  the  purpose  of  informal  con- 
sultation preparatory  to  voting  on  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Executive  Power. 

When  at  midnight  the  President  again 
called  the  House  to  order,  several  deputies 
desired  to  record  their  votes  in  the  affirmative 
on  the  proposition  establishing  a  Republic. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIlROyE.        259 

The  Presidency  of  the  Republic  was  ten- 
dered to  Senor  Figueras,  he  having  received 
two  hundred  and  fortj^-four  votes  out  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty-six  cast.  Senor  Castehxr 
was  appointed  Secretary  of  State  on  a  total 
of  two  hundred  and  forty-five  votes ;  while 
Senor  Pi  y  Margall,  as  Minister  of  the  In- 
terior,  General  Cordova  as  Minister  of  War, 
and  the  other  members  of  the  Government 
were  elected  by  equally  large  majorities. 

The  Vice-President  of  the  Chamber  hav- 
ing announced  the  result,  the  members  of 
the  Government  took  their  seats  on  the 
Ministerial  bench  amidst  long  continued 
cheering  and  applause. 

The  President  of  the  Republic,  rising  to 
his  feet,  stated  that  he  was  unfitted  to  address 
the  House  owing  to  the  moral  and  physical 
exhaustion  he  was  experiencing  after  the 
anxieties  of  the  last  forty-eight  hours.  Op- 
pressed by  the  immense  responsibility  laid 
upon  him,  he  could  only  thank  the  Cortes 
for  the  confidence  placed  in  him.  For  the 
present  he  could  put  forth  no  programme, 
but  he  declared  that  he  and  his  colleagfues 
were  resolved  that  the  approaching  elections 
should  be  conducted  with  perfect  regularity, 
and  in  accordance  with  the  most  ample  liberty. 


260        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Thus  terminated,  sit  half-past  two  in  the 
morning,  one  of  the  most  eventful  parliament- 
ary sessions  in  Spanish  history,  and  one  of 
the  most  extraordinary  political  revolutions 
the  world  has  ever  witnessed. 

With  the  exception  of  a  momentary  tumult 
in  Seville,  quickly  and  effectually  suppressed, 
the  transformation  from  the  monarchical  form 
of  government  to  that  of  the  republic  had 
been  accomplished  without  revolution — ex- 
cept in  a  parliamentary  sense — without  resort- 
ing to  force,  and  without  the  shedding  of 
blood.  Within  a  few  short  months,  how- 
ever, the  apparent  calm  was  to  be  followed 
by  a  reactionary  movement  which  again 
plunged  the  unhappy  country  in  the  vortex 
of  insurrection  and  revolt,  which,  by  a  strange 
irony  of  Fate,  was  to  yield  in  its  turn  to  the 
triumphant  reinstatement  of  the  dynasty  so 
ruthlessly  banished  in  1869. 

With  the  fall  of  the  Savoy  Monarchy,  and 
the  creation  of  the  Republic,  our  interest  in 
Spanish  political  events  must  cease. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Preparations  for  departure.— The  Queen's  health.— Their  Maj- 
esties leave  the  Palace.— The  Royal  Train.— Neglect  to  fur- 
nish  suitable  escort. —Scenes  during  the  journey.— Incident  at 
Merida. — Arival  at  Lisbon. 

A  FEW  moments  after  six  o'clock  on  the 
morning  of  February  12tli,  1873,  which  day 
broke  cold  and  rainy,  four  Court  carriages 
could  be  seen  issuing  from  the  great  portals 
of  the  Royal  Palace,  and  slowly  wending 
their  way  down  the  steep  streets  leading  to 
the  railway  station. 

In  the  first,  accompanied  by  his  wife,  sat 
Amadeus  I.,  elected  by  the  People,  through 
their  representatives  in  the  Constituent  Cortes, 
to  occupy  the  throne  of  Ferdinand  and 
Isabella,  of  Charles  the  Fifth,  and  a  host  of 
glorious  Sovereigns. 

Convinced  of  the  futility  of  further  effort 
to  achieve  the  pacification  of  the  country  by 
the  establishment  of  his  dynasty,  and  unwill- 
ing to  play  longer  the  part  of  a  crowned 
261 


262        TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

intruder  at  the  head  of  a  mere  political  faction, 
Amadeus  had  returned  the  sceptre  to  those 
from  whom  he  had  received  it,  and  now- 
sought  the  freedom  and  liberty  of  action 
which,  as  Duke  of  Aosta,  he  could  reasonably 
expect  to  enjoy. 

Although  Lisbon  was  the  first  stage  of  the 
journey  it  was  now  decided  to  undertake, 
the  stay  there  would  only  be  prolonged  suf- 
ficiently to  enable  the  Queen  to  regain  her 
strength.  Her  Majesty,  incompletely  re- 
covered from  her  recent  confinement,  was 
suffering  from  fever  and  exhaustion,  as  well 
as  from  the  nervous  shock  caused  by  the  excit- 
ing events  of  the  past  weeks.  The  medical 
council  assembled  at  the  Palace  during  the 
afternoon  of  the  eleventh  had  agreed  to  allow 
their  roj^al  patient  to  undertake  the  long 
journey,  fearing  that  even  a  temporary  separa- 
tion from  her  husband  would,  under  the  cir- 
cumstances, do  more  harm  than  the  unavoid- 
able fatigue  of  travel.  But  they  had  given 
their  consent  with  the  utmost  reluctance,  fully 
realizing  the  danger  of  permanent  injury  to 
her  health  which  would  be  run,  and  clearly 
foreseeing  the  develo^jment  of  the  illness 
which  in  a  few  short  years  was  to  carry  the 
distinguished  sufferer  to  the  tomb. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        263 

Even  had  the  verdict  of  the  physicians 
been  adverse  to  the  proposed  journey,  Ama- 
deus  was  desirous  of  leaving  the  palace 
without  delay.  It  was  hinted  that  the  royal 
family  M^ould  occupy  the  Italian  Legation 
until  such  time  as  the  Queen  could  with 
safety  undertake  tlie  journey.  It  was  even 
said  that  Amadeus  had  declared  to  those 
around  him  that  once  his  abdication  accepted 
by  the  Cortes  he  became  "  ipso  facto  "  a 
private  citizen,  and  that  as  such,  could  he 
not  at  once  leave  Madrid,  he  would  prefer  to 
engage  rooms  in  one  of  the  hotels  of  the  city. 

Long  before  daybreak  the  inhabitants  of 
the  palace  were  astir,  in  fact  the  entire  night 
had  been  passed  by  many  in  making  hasty 
preparations  for  departure.  In  the  ante- 
rooms were  assembled  those  (few,  alas  !  ) 
who,  faithful  in  adversity,  desired  to  pay  a 
last  tribute  of  affection  and  respect  to  the 
masters  they  had  learnt  to  love. 

In  the  private  apartments  Senora  de  Madoz 
was  assisting  her  royal  mistress  in  her  prep- 
arations for  the  journey.  Before  leaving 
her  rooms  the  Queen,  in  taking  leave  of  this 
faithful  attendant,  pressed  upon  her  the 
breviary  she  always  used,  as  well  as  various 
presents  of  great  value. 


264        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

At  precisely  six  o'clock  Don  Amadeo,  his 
wife  and  familj^  appeared.  The  Queen  was 
carried  in  a  sedan-chair,  surrounded  by  her 
family  and  friends,  and  closely  followed  by 
a  nurse  bearing  the  infant  Prince,  scarcely 
a  fortnight  old.  With  their  Majesties  were 
Generals  Tassara  and  Burgos,  Count  Rius, 
Senor  Albareda,  the  King's  aides-de-camp, 
and  several  others. 

As  the  little  procession  advanced  through 
the  long  suites  of  gorgeously  decorated  re- 
ception-rooms which  had  afforded  so  little 
satisfaction  or  pleasure  to  their  late  occupants, 
the  servants  and  lower  officials  greeted  them 
with  expressions  of  respect  and  emotion. 
The  soldiers  of  the  Life  Guard  lined  the  great 
staircase,  and  rendered  military  honors. 
Amadeus  appeared  dejected,  and  with  dif- 
ficulty concealed  his  deep  emotion,  speaking 
hardly  at  all,  and  passing  with  eyes  cast 
down  ;  the  Queen  wept  bitterly  as  she  Avas 
carried  through  the  midst  of  those  who  had 
served  her  faithfully  during  her  short  sojourn 
in  Spain.  As  the  royal  party  passed  the 
soldiers  broke  their  ranks  and  followed  on 
behind.  Although  some  two  hundred  per- 
sons were  thus  gathered  around  their  Majes- 
ties, an  eye-witness  states  that  no  sound  was 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        265 

audible.  It  seemed  as  if  all  present  held 
their  breath  in  order  not  to  disturb  the  elo- 
quent silence  of  what  appeared  to  them  a 
ceremony  fraught  with  some  mysterious  re- 
ligious import. 

On  reaching  the  portico  at  the  foot  of  the 
stairs  the  bearers  set  down  their  burden,  and 
Amadeus  advanced  and,  lifting  the  Queen 
in  his  arms,  tenderly  placed  her  in  the  car- 
riage which  was  in  waiting.  Senor  Rivero 
here  bade  adieu  to  their  Majesties,  who  earn- 
estly charged  him  to  watch  over  the  interests 
of  the  servants  they  left  behind  them.  To 
these  Amadeus  paid  a  full  month's  wages, 
besides  making  to  each  handsome  and  valu- 
able presents,  and  asking  them  to  retain 
possession  of  their  liveries  as  souvenii-s  of 
their  late  master.  A  few  moments  later 
^laria  Victoria  gave  the  signal  for  departure, 
and  the  four  carriages  conveying  the  royal 
party  and  their  suite,  issued  from  the  Prince's 
Gate  and  drove  off  in  the  direction  of  the 
Northern  Station,  where  a  special  train  had 
been  in  waiting  since  the  night  before. 

During  the  short  drive,  as  the  carriages 
made  their  way  through  the  Moro  Gardens, 
the  royal  couple  were  greeted  with  cries  of 
"  Long  live  the  King,"  by  a  small  gathering 


266        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

of  spectators,  to  which  a  rival  group  re- 
sponded with  shouts  for  the  Republic.  Be- 
yond this  no  demonstration  was  made  ;  and 
in  fact  the  early  hour  and  uncertainty  of  the 
King's  movements  prevented  any  considerable 
number  of  persons  being  present. 

At  the  railway  station  the  deputation  ap- 
pointed by  the  Assembly  to  accompany  the 
King  to  the  frontier  was  in  waiting.  It  con- 
sisted of  the  Marquis  de  Seoane,  Messieurs 
Montesinos,  Moncasi,  Rossell,  Ulloa,  Montero, 
Rios,  Generals  Tassara  and  Gandara,  and 
others.  Besides  these  gentlemen  their 
Majesties  were  greeted  on  their  departure 
by  the  Marquis  de  Sardoal,  by  the  diplomatic 
representatives  of  Italy  and  Portugal,  ac- 
companied by  theirwives,  the  Italian  Consul, 
and  five  or  six  police  agents.  Not  a  single 
Government  oflScial  ;  not  a  single  one  of 
those  who  at  the  beginning  of  the  reign  had 
been  so  lavish  in  their  protestations  of  friend- 
ship and  loyalty ;  not  even  one  of  the  recipi- 
ents of  the  Queen's  charities,  or  of  those  who 
had  thronged  her  audience-chamber,  and 
received  of  her  royal  bounty.  Not  even  a 
Guard  of  Honor  was  furnished.  It  is  true 
that  Sefior  Rivero  afterwards  excused  himself 
for  this  lack  of  courtesy  by  explaining  that 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       267 

the  necessary  orders  liacl  been  issued  for  the 
formation  of  a  Guard  of  Honor,  and  an  escort, 
but  liad  mysteriously  been  countermanded. 

The  train  provided  for  their  Majesties  con- 
sisted of  a  first-class  carriage,  in  one  of  the 
compartments  of  \vhicli  a  bed  had  been  pre- 
pared for  the  Queen  ;  of  a  saloon-carriage  for 
the  deputation  of  Parliament  and  the  suite, 
and  of  two  second-class  carriasres  for  the 
soldiei"s  who  were  to  accompany  the  party, 
as  well  as  of  a  couple  of  baggage-vans.  The 
escort,  however,  being  absent,  these  carriages 
remained  vacant  until  the  Southern  Madrid 
station  was  reached,  where  Admiral  Topete, 
and  others  in  authority,  arranged  that  the 
eight  policemen  in  charge  of  the  station  should 
accompany  the  train  in  the  capacity  of  escort. 

With  her  babe,  scarce  a  fortnight  old,  at 
her  breast,  and  her  two  young  children  cling- 
ing to  her  knees,  the  unfortunate  mother 
now  started  on  the  long  and  anxious  journey 
across  what  had  been  her  Kingdom,  without 
any  of  the  appliances  for  material  comfort 
necessitated  by  her  physical  condition,  while 
even  tlie  elementary  wants  of  her  children 
had  been  overlooked,  or  forgotten,  in  the 
hurry  of  departure.  For  long  hours  not  a 
drop  of  milk  or  a  cup  of  broth  was  obtainable. 


2G8        THE  SACniFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

Until  Aranjuez  was  reached  the  stations 
through  which  the  train  passed  were  de- 
serted; even  here  the  crowd  was  small,  and 
consisted  mainly  of  those  emploj^ed  on  the 
royal  estate.  A  telegram  from  the  Govern- 
ment had  been  received  at  Alcazar  de  San 
Juan,  instructing  the  local  authorities  to  greet 
the  august  travellers  with  the  honors  due 
their  rank,  and  to  furnish  a  more  suitable 
escort  than  the  eight  police  agents  who  had 
been  unceremoniously  picked  up  at  Madrid. 
Here  also  some  refreshments  had  been  pre- 
pared in  virtue  of  a  telegraphic  message  dis- 
patched from  the  train  at  Aranjuez.  Descend- 
ing from  the  carriage  Amadeus  opened  him- 
self a  passage  through  the  silent  and  respect- 
ful throng  which  crowded  the  platform,  and 
seated  himself  at  the  table,  where  those  who 
accompanied  him  also  took  places  irrespect- 
ive of  rank  or  etiquette.  The  crowd,  whose 
curiosity  impelled  them  to  stare  at  the  late 
Chief  of  a  nation  of  sixteen  million  souls, 
was  so  dense  that  the  waiters  had  the  utmost 
difficulty  in  serving  those  seated  at  table. 

As  the  day  wore  on  the  crowds  at  the 
various  stations  increased ;  sometimes  their 
Majesties  were  greeted  with  respect  and  sym- 
pathy, at  others  the  hostility  of  the  mob  was 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        269 

undisguised.  At  Merida  a  firearm  was  dis- 
charged at  the  royal  train,  while  on  several 
occasions  stones  were  thrown.  At  Badajoz 
the  aspect  of  the  crowd  awaiting  their  Majes- 
ties was  particularly  threatening :  here  also 
the  small  escort  was  left  as  the  train  was 
shortly  to  enter  Portuguese  territory.  Late 
at  night  the  frontier  was  reached,  and  the 
train  halted  in  front  of  the  Custom-house. 
Amadeus  liere  received  the  authorities,  and 
took  leave  of  those  members  of  the  Parliamen- 
tary Commission  who  had  accompanied  him 
thus  far.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  morning 
the  train  again  started  for  Lisbon,  which  was 
reached  at  a  little  after  ten  on  the  morning 
of  the  thirteenth. 

Affectionately  received  by  the  Portuguese 
Sovereigns,  by  the  representatives  of  Italy 
and  Spain,  and  by  the  populace,  the  royal 
travellers  were  immediately  conducted  to 
the  palace  of  Belera,  where  Maria  Victoria 
found  the  rest  she  so  greatly  stood  in  need  of. 

"  Thank  God  I  Now  I  shall  be  able  to  live 
in  peace !  "  had  been  the  words  uttered  by 
the  Queen  wlien  informed  of  the  abdication. 

Here  in  Lisbon  she  could  at  least  have  a 
foretaste  of  the  peace  and  tranquillity  her 
soul  craved. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

Disapprobation  of  Victor  Emmanuel  of  contemplated  abdica- 
tion.— Reception  of  the  news  in  Italy. — Criticism  of  the  King's 
action.—  General  Lanza's  despatch.— Estimates  of  the  foreign 
press.— Resolutions  of  Italian  Chambers. — The  Prince's  reply 
to  same.— His  statement  to  delegation  in  Turin. — Incidents  at 
Lisbon. — Feeling  in  Spain. 

Amadeus  had  prepared  Victor  Emmanuel 
some  time  previous  to  its  occurrence  for  the 
eventuality  of  his  abdication,  and  had  re- 
ceived in  reply  a  message  of  emphatic  dis- 
approbation of  the  step  he  meditated.  The 
King  of  Italy  reminded  his  son  that  the 
destinies  of  a  nation  were  not  thus  to  be 
abandoned  without  weighty  consideration, 
and  that  the  people,  in  electing  him  their 
ruler,  had  confided  to  him  sacred  interests 
which  were  not  lightly  to  be  cast  aside. 

Uncertain  as  to  the  welcome  he  might 
expect  in  Italy,  the  Duke  for  a  moment  con- 
sidered the  advisability  of  establishing  a 
temporary    residence   either   in  Belgium  or 

Switzerland.     However,  when  full  details  of 
270 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        271 

the  occurrences  which  had  conduced  to  the 
abdication  reached  Italy,  Victor  Emmanuel 
changed  his  opinion,  and  hastened  to  ex- 
tend a  hearty  invitation  to  his  son  to  return 
to  his  native  land,  and  at  the  same  time 
dispatched  the  Italian  frigate  "  Roma," 
to  Lisbon  to  convey  the  royal  couj^le  to 
Genoa. 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  news  of  the 
King  of  Spain's  abdication,  and  the  causes 
which  had  prompted  it,  gave  rise  to  much 
comment  and  controversy  throughout  Europe. 
By  many  the  King  was  blamed  for  yielding 
in  the  face  of  difficulties  which,  although 
serious,  might,  it  was  argued,  have  been  over- 
come by  the  exercise  of  a  firm  and  decisive 
individual  policy  still  strictly  within  the 
limits  of  the  constitutional  guarantees.  By 
others  again  Amadeus  was  applauded  for  his 
discernment  in  appreciating  the  fact  that  his 
dynasty  could  never  become  popular  with  a 
considerable  and  increasing  majority  of  his 
subjects,  and  for  the  unusual  abnegation  dis- 
played in  voluntarily  sacrificing  his  crown, 
and  the  claims  of  his  descendants,  to  what 
he  conscientiously  believed  to  be  the  best 
interests  of  his  adopted  country. 

These  latter  were  ready  to  agree  with  the 


272        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

King  when  he  exclaimed  in  weariness  and 
disgust : 

"  How  can  I  be  expected  to  succeed  when 
even  those  pledged  to  uphold  and  defend  the 
monarchy  quarrel  amongst  themselves,  and 
sacrifice  our  mutual  cause  to  personal  ambi- 
tions !  " 

By  those  who  have  perused  the  earlier 
pages  of  this  study,  it  will  be  remembered 
that,  from  the  moment  of  his  arrival  in  Spain, 
Amadeus  had  insisted,  in  his  official  speeches, 
as  well  as  in  private  conversation,  that  under 
no  circumstances  would  he  impose  himself,  or 
his  dynasty,  on  the  Spanish  people.  On  four 
occasions  the  Cortes  liad  been  dissolved  and 
fresh  elections  undertaken,  and  on  each  oc- 
casion the  country  had  returned  a  more  or 
less  substantial  support  to  the  Crown.  It 
was,  however,  extremely  doubtful,  owing  to 
the  disturbed  state  of  the  Kingdom,  and  the 
intrigues  of  contending  political  factions, 
how  far  such  elections  really  expressed  the 
national  sentiment.  As  long  and  as  often  as 
possible  the  King  was  kept  in  ignorance  of 
the  true  trend  of  public  feeling  ;  or  attempts 
were  made  to  warp  his  naturally  sound  judg- 
ment by  garbled  statements  of  political  events 
which  it  would  have  been  well-nigh  impos- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       273 

sible  for  him  to  personally  verify.  This 
treachery  was  perpetrated  by  those  surround- 
ing the  throne:  men  whose  personal  ambitions 
passed  before  patriotic  or  loyal  considera- 
tions, and  who  traded  on  the  confidence  re- 
posed in  them.  It  is  doubtful,  however,  if 
even  those  nearest  the  King  attached  more 
than  a  passing  significance  to  His  Majesty's 
reiterated  assertions  concerning  the  limita- 
tions of  his  reign  ;  while  it  is  certain  that 
the  climax  of  February  eleventh  came  as  a 
surprise  to  many  who  considered  themselves 
prepared  for  an  eventual  crisis. 

Nor  were  the  immediate  reasons  for  the 
abdication  either  thoroughly  or  generally  un- 
derstood. Had  the  King  decided  to  renounce 
the  throne  rather  than  affix  his  signature  to 
a  measure  which  he  most  earnestly  disap- 
proved, the  opportuneness  of  his  resolve  would 
have  been  more  readily  comprehended ;  but 
having  once  signed  the  decree  there  would 
seem  to  have  been  no  immediate  reason  for 
the  step.  That  His  Majesty  should  experi- 
ence bitter  disgust  at  having  been  practically 
entrapped  into  acquiescence  by  the  adroitness 
of  his  ministers  is  natural,  but  was  not  gen- 
erally accepted  as  sufiicient  ground  for  the  ex- 
treme course  adopted.  His  INIajesty  was  at 
i8 


274        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

liberty,  it  was  urged,  to  dismiss  his  advisers  and 
fill  their  places  as  he  desired,  and  there  were 
not  wanting  those  who  would  liave  heartily 
supported  such  action.  On  the  other  hand, 
Amadeus  had  repeatedly  affirmed  that  he 
would  rule  through  the  Cortes  alone,  and 
never  antagonize  the  wishes  of  a  majority  in 
that  body.  By  their  adroit  action  in  obtain- 
ing a  vote  of  approbation  and  confidence  in 
tlie  Chamber,  the  Cabinet  had  isolated  the 
Crown,  and  was  in  a  position  to  defy  it.  The 
attempt  on  the  part  of  the  King  to  ignore 
such  a  vote  and  impose  his  views  on  the 
Chamber  and  Cabinet  alike,  necessitating,  as 
it  must,  the  dissolution  of  the  Cortes  should 
other  counsellors  accept  office,  would  have 
been  open  to  the  interpretation  of  a  coup- 
d'^tat. 

We  may  regret  the  announcement  of  the 
abdication  was  not  simultaneous  with  that  of 
a  refusal  to  sanction  the  proposed  measure, 
but  we  must  not  hastily  condemn  an  action 
imposed  upon  a  constitutional  ruler  by  his 
advisers  and  the  voice  of  the  people — as 
echoed  through  their  legal  representatives — 
alike. 

In  Italy  the  news  of  the  King's  departure 
from  Madrid  was  received  with  dismay.    Gen- 


THE  SACniFICE  OF  A  TIUiONE.        275 

eral  Lanza,  then  Italian  Premier,  telegraphing 
to  Victor  Emmanuel  on    February   twelfth, 
says  :"  I  understand   Your   Majesty's    legiti- 
mate emotion  in  the  presence  of  the  grave  and 
unexpected  events  in  Spain,     I  am   in  con- 
sternation at  possible  political  consequences. 
Spain  torn  by  civil  war  will  soon  experience 
lamentable  results  and  regret  the  withdrawal 
of  the  Prince  who  would  liave  re-established 
order  and  prosperity.     King  Amadeus  returns 
to  Italy   with  greater   fame ;  a  most   lo3'al, 
wise  and  courageous  Prince.     By  his  abdica- 
tion the  glory  of  the  House  of  Savoy  is  not 
diminished  but  increased.     He  will  undoubt- 
edly   receive    an  enthusiastic    welcome    in 
Italy,  and  his  resolution  and  conduct  will  be 
applauded  by  all  Europe."     That  Lanza  was 
not  as  enthusiastic  over  the  abdication  as  this 
official  dispatch  would  lead  us  to  believe  has 
been  demonstrated  in  a  previous  chapter  de- 
scribing, in  the   General's    own    words,  his 
interview  with  the  Duchess  of  Aosta  on  her 
return  to  Turin. 

In  spite  of  adverse  criticism  the  general 
concensus  of  public  opinion  was  that  Amadeus 
had  acted  wisely.  The  German  Press  was 
inclined  to  see  sj'mptoms  of  French  influence 
in  the  establishment  of  the  republican  form 


276        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

of  government  in  Spain,  and  was  not  slow- 
to  attribute  many  of  the  difficulties  encoun- 
tered bj"^  the  King  to  intrigues  woven  ou  the 
other  side  of  the  Pja-enees,  and  not  solely  to 
the  Carlist  leaders  who  were  so  unaccount- 
ably permitted  to  use  the  north  bank  of  the  Bi- 
dassoa  as  a  base  of  operations.  Gambetta's 
organ,  "  La  Republique  Fran9aise,"  pro- 
nounced the  spontaneous  renunciation  of  the 
"  ardent  and  courageous  Prince,  a  member  of 
the  oldest  reigning  house  in  Europe,  a  most 
rare  act  of  intelligence  and  sentiment ;  a 
deed,  profoundly  dignified  and  politic,  un- 
precedented in  monarchical  annals." 

From  Italy  came  hundreds  of  telegrams  of 
sympathy  and  admiration.  "  If  you  returned 
to  us  flushed  with  victory,"  telegraphed  Sena- 
tor Imbriani,  Syndic  of  Naples,  "  your  name 
would  be  far  less  glorious  than  it  is  to-day 
after  your  magnanimous  renunciation.  .  .  . 
You  descend  from  the  throne  as  you  ascended 
it — uncontaminated." 

On  February  fifteenth  the  Italian  Chamber 
unanimously  passed  a  resolution  welcoming 
the  Prince  should  he  decide  to  return  to 
Italy,  the  promoters  of  which  were  Signores 
Marco  Minghetti  and  Francesco  Crispi. 
"  The   Chamber  of  Deputies,"  so   read  the 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        277 

resolution,  "  moved  by  the  announcement  of 
abdication  of  the  King  of  Spain,  being  as- 
sured that  it  interprets  the  sentiments  of  the 
Kation,  and  recollecting  that  he  fought  for 
the  Italian  Fatherland,  declares  to  the  August 
Prince  Amadeus  that  Italy  will  to-day  re- 
ceive him  with  even  greater  affection  and 
devotion  on  account  of  admiration  for  his 
loyal,  dignified  and  frankl}'  constitutional 
conduct."  Speaking  in  support  of  the 
resolution  Signor  Crispi  added :  "  We  all 
adhere  to  this  motion.  We  were  adverse  to 
the  acceptance  of  the  Crown ;  but  to-day  we 
are  most  glad,  not  for  the  unfortunate  event 
to  which  it  has  led,  but  in  noting  that  tlie 
Prince  has  chosen  the  best  solution,  that  of 
abdicating  a  throne  on  which  he  could  not 
reign  in  the  name  of  Liberty." 

Under  date  of  March  first,  1873,  the  Prince 
replied  from  Lisbon  in  the  following  terms : 

"  Mr.  PnEsroENT : 

"  An  arduous  mission  was  offered  me  :  I 
accepted  it,  making  in  so  doing  the  greatest 
of  sacrifices,  that  of  my  beloved  Country. 
I  accepted  it  in  order  to  restore  peace  and 
tranquillity  to  Spain.  Two  years  have  now 
passed.     I  leave   Spain  more   divided,  more 


278        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

harassed  than  ever :  with  grief  I  confess  it. 
Finding  that  Spain  could  not  attain  through 
me  her  happiness,  I  renounced  the  Crown, 
after  having  faithfully  adhered  to  the  con- 
stitution I  had  taken  oath  to.  I  am  return- 
ing to  Italy.  You  may  be  certain  in  finding 
in  me  a  soldier,  a  lover  of  my  Country,  at 
whose  service  I  place  m}^  life. 

"  I  beg  you,  Mr.  President,  to  be  the  inter- 
preter of  these  sentiments  to  the  Chamber  of 
Deputies,  as  also  of  my  most  sincere  thanks 
for  the  address  they  forwarded  me. 

"  Accept,  I  request,  the  assurances  of  my 
highest  esteem. 

"  Amadeus  of  Savoy." 

Speaking  of  his  recent  abdication  to  the 
members  of  a  commission  appointed  by  the 
City  of  Turin  to  offer  His  Royal  Highness  a 
Civic  Crown  (a  gift  of  the  highest  symbolic 
distinction),  on  his  return  to  his  native  city, 
Amadeus  said :  "  Urged  by  public  opinion, 
I  accepted  the  Crown  of  Spain  with  the 
fallacious  idea  that,  by  faithfully  observing  the 
new  constitution,  my  acceptance  would  restore 
to  that  noble  people  their  ancient  grandeur  and 
prosperity.  I  am  certain  of  having  always 
done  my  duty  and  of  having  adopted  all  honest 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        279 

means  of  attaiuingtliat  important  object;  but 
when  I  was  convinced  that  my  presence 
would  become  the  pretext  for  even  greater 
discord,  I  did  not  hesitate  a  moment,  and 
I  preferred  to  immediately  vacate  the 
throne." 

Although  it  had  been  proposed  to  remain 
in  Portugal  only  for  the  period  strictly  neces- 
sary for  the  Queen's  convalesence,  nearly 
three  weeks  elapsed  before  Her  Majesty  was  in 
a  fit  condition  to  continue  the  journey.  Dur- 
ing- this  time  the  arrangements  for  the  voyage 
to  Italy  were  completed,  and  the  Italian 
frigate  "  Roma  "  put  in  readiness  to  receive 
the  royal  travellers. 

While  greatly  impressed  by  the  events 
connected  with  his  abdication,  and  especially 
by  the  attitude  of  the  Provisional  Govern- 
ment, and  of  the  populace  during  his  recent 
journey  across  Spain,  Amadeus  was  not  long 
in  regaining  his  usual  buoyancy  of  spirits,  or 
in  resuming  his  accustomed  mode  of  life. 
That  he  had  every  right  to  be  dissatisfied  with 
the  scant  courtesy  shown  by  the  Provisional 
Government  for  his  comfort  or  safety  during 
the  journey,  even  the  Spanish  papers  freely 
admitted,  qualifying  the  conduct  of  the  King's 
former  Ministers  as  "shameful  and  unworthy 


280        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

of  gentlemen."  Yet  the  Prince's  nature  was 
not  one  to  long  bear  malice  even  towards 
those  who  at  the  beginning  of  his  reign  had 
so  dramatically  protested  their  resolve  to  die 
at  the  foot  of  the  throne,  should  harm  threaten 
their  Sovereign. 

A  few  days  after  the  arrival  of  the  Spanish 
Sovereigns  the  Diplomatic  Corps  accredited 
to  the  Portuguese  Court  made  application 
for  an  audience.  Although  Amadeus  declined 
to  grant  an  official  reception,  he  immediately 
signified  his  willingness  to  receive  each  mem- 
ber of  the  Diplomatic  Corps  individually  and 
privately. 

This  evident  disposition  on  the  part  of  their 
late  Ruler  to  discard  all  semblance  or  pretence 
of  royal  state,  and  his  earnestly  expressed 
desire  to  return,  as  completely  as  his  birth 
and  station  would  permit,  to  private  life, 
caused  general  satisfaction  in  Spain,  where 
there  existed  a  nervous  apprehension  of 
foreign  intervention,  shared  by  many  of  those 
by  whom  the  spontaneous  and  definite  nature 
of  the  renunciation  of  the  throne  was  but 
dimly  comprehended. 

To  the  impression,  insidiously  fostered  by 
his  enemies,  that  the  King  abandoned  the 
country  in   order  to   seek  and   return  with 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        281 

foreign  aid,  may  be  attributed  in  part  the 
senseless  hostile  demonstrations  made  at 
many  of  the  wayside  stations  through  which 
the  royal  train  had  passed  on  its  way  to 
Portugal. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

Departure  from  Lisbon  and  arrival  in  Italy.— Illness  of  the 
Duchess. — Her  Death. — Criticism  of  Maria  "Victoria. — Her 
place  in  history.— The  Duke's  life  after  his  wife's  death  in 
Turin  and  abroad.— Death  of  Victor  Emmanuel  and  of  Pius 
IX. — The  occupants  of  the  Vatican  and  Quirinal  and  their  in- 
fluence on  Italian  politics. 

On  taking  leave  of  tlieir  royal  relatives,  the 
Duke  and  Duchess  of  Aosta,  as  they  now  pre- 
ferred to  be  styled,  together  with  their  three 
children,  embarked  on  the  "  Roma,"  and  set 
sail  for  Italy.  The  voyage  was  accomplished 
without  incident,  and  on  March  ninth  the 
frigate  entered  the  harbor  of  Genoa,  which 
was  gayly  decorated  with  flags  and  bunting. 

On  landing  their  Royal  Highnesses  were  re- 
ceived with  every  token  of  sympathetic  affec- 
tion and  esteem  on  the  part  of  their  country- 
men, who,  with  unfeigned  spontaneity,  wel- 
comed not  the  dethroned  Monarch,  but  the 
fellow-citizen  of  whose  conduct  they  were 
proud. 

By  an  almost  unanimous  vote  of  Parliament 

282 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        285 

the  Royal  prerogatives  and  appanages  he  had 
enjoyed  before  his  acceptance  of  tlie  Spanish 
Crown  were  restored  to  the  Prince,  and  provi- 
sion made  for  the  resumption  of  his  military 
rank.  For  reasons  which  were  readily  un- 
derstood Amadeus  desired  for  tlie  present  to 
reside  quietly  in  Turin.  Victor  Emmanuel, 
although  lie  greatly  wished  that  his  son  should 
be  near  him,  yielded  to  this  earnestly  ex- 
pressed preference,  whicli  soon  became  a  ne- 
cessity on  account  of  the  increasingly  delicate 
health  of  tlie  Duchess. 

The  palace  belonging  to  Maria  Victoria 
having  been  let  during  their  absence,  the 
couple  took  up  their  residence  on  the  ground 
floor  of  the  royal  castle  at  Turin,  in  a  rel- 
atively small  but  comfortable  apartment 
opening  upon  the  beautiful  gardens  overhang- 
ing the  Po.  The  rapid  strides  made  by  the 
disease  which  was  gradually  sapping  the  life 
of  Maria  Victoria  soon  made  it  advisable  to 
move  her  to  the  Palace  of  Moncalieri,  a  great 
bleak  pile  situated  within  a  few  miles  of  Turin. 
In  spite  of  the  change  of  air  the  condition  of 
the  ex-Queen  became  daily  more  hopeless. 
Devotedly  attended  by  her  husband,  who  re- 
served to  himself  the  performance  of  all  the 
cares  necessitated  by  her  illness,  the  invalid 


284       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

was  to  be  seen  daily,  while  the  weather  was 
propitious,  in  the  gardens  of  the  palace.  Un- 
able to  walk,  or  even  stand  upon  her  feet,  the 
Duchess  was  usually  wheeled  about  the 
grounds  by  Amadeus  himself,  accompanied 
by  the  little  Princes,  who  romped  and 
frolicked  around  their  parents  in  all  their 
childish  carelessness  and  ignorant  of  their  im- 
pending loss. 

On  November  eighth,  at  San  Remo,  where 
she  had  been  conveyed  with  the  forlorn  hope 
of  benefit  from  the  soft  air,  the  Duchess 
breathed  her  last. 

During  the  twenty-nine  years  of  her  event- 
ful life  Maria  Victoria  had  tasted  of  triumphs 
calculated  to  inflame  the  passions  of  the  least 
ambitious  of  women.  With  the  exception  of 
the  Empress  Eugenie  we  do  not  recollect  a 
similar  example  in  contemporaneous  history. 
Yet  to  this  truly  womanly  woman  the  glitter 
and  splendor  of  a  court  were  as  nothing  com- 
pared to  the  peace  and  happiness  of  her  own 
fireside.  Herself  of  noble  birth  she  had  be- 
come the  wife  of  a  Prince  standing  very  near 
the  throne,  not  as  the  result  of  any  ambitious 
intrigue,  but  of  a  mutual  passion  which  was 
not  to  be  withstood.  AVhen  later  a  crown 
was  offered  her  she  had  reluctantly  accepted 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       285 

the  irksome  duties  and  responsibilities  of  her 
new  station,  devoting  her  time  and  energies, 
not  to  tlie  disphiy  of  the  pomp  and  splendor 
connected  with  her  exalted  rank,  but  in  the 
constant  exercise  of  those  charities  and  acts 
of  personal  kindness  which  had  become  asso- 
ciated with  her  name  long  before  any  visions 
of  the  royal  purple  had  been  raised  before  her 
eyes.  Totally  devoid  of  worldly  ambition 
she  had  returned  to  private  life  with  a  feel- 
ing of  intense  relief.  From  a  political  point 
of  view  her  lack  of  ambition  was,  as  has 
already  been  stated,  condemned  by  one  of 
Italy's  foremost  statesmen  as  detrimental  to  her 
husband's  interests  ;  but  who  shall  say  that 
guided  by  her  woman's  finer  intuition,  she  did 
not  more  readily  perceive  and  grasp  from 
the  outset  the  subtle  influences  which  made 
the  position  of  a  foreign  ruler  in  Spain  an 
anomaly !  An  excessive  political  ambition 
had  a  couple  of  years  previously  brouglitruia 
and  misery  to  France  :  Maria  Victoria  pre- 
ferred to  be  held  responsible  for  an  abdication 
rather  than  a  war.  The  democratic  simplicity 
of  the  Court  at  Madrid  had  been  disagreeable 
to  many  accustomed  to  the  magnificence  of 
the  old  regime,  but  it  should  be  recollected 
that  the  Queen,  as  much  by  force  of  circum- 


286        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

stances  as  from  natural  inclination,  was 
obliged  to  restrict  ceremony  and  ostentation 
to  their  narrowest  limits.  In  this  detail  the 
Queen's  action  was  profoundly  politic,  for 
although  it  might  not  meet  with  the  views  of 
the  few,  it  could  on  the  other  hand  give  no 
offence  to  the  masses  who  could  reproach  the 
sovereign  with  no  lavish  extravagances — save 
in  her  charities. 

As  a  Queen  Maria  Victoria  will  be  remem- 
bered for  her  care  and  tenderness  of  those 
in  suffering  or  distress :  as  a  Princess  for  her 
gracious  dignity  and  great,  though  unob- 
trusive, learning  and  intelligence,  which  went 
hand  in  hand  with  all  the  purely  domestic 
virtues  of  the  wife  and  mother  shared  with 
her  sisters  in  every  social  rank. 

Participating  in  a  sorrow  which  so  deeply 
touched  the  Royal  House,  Parliament  decreed 
to  disjDlay  the  signs  of  mourning  for  a  period 
of  forty-five  days. 

"The  mourning  we  adopt  for  her,"  said 
Signor  Crispi,  when  proposing  this  mark  of 
respect,  "  is  a  national  mourning." 

And  as  such  it  was  considered  by  the  Italian 
people ;  while  in  distant  Spain  the  Prince's 
sorrow  found  a  sympathetic  echo  in  the  hearts 
of  those  who  had  experienced  the  Queen's 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        287 

bounty,  or  had  come  witbiu  the  sphere  of  her 
gracious  influence. 

The  Duchess  was  laid  at  rest  in  the 
mausoleum  of  the  members  of  the  House  of 
Savoy  on  the  beautiful  hill  of  the  Superga, 
overlooking  the  city  where  the  best  years  of 
her  life's  happiness  had  been  spent,  and  the 
home  whose  dignified  tranquillity  she  had  so 
craved  while  seated  on  the  glorious  throne  of 
Ferdinand  and  Isabella. 

By  Maria  Victoria's  express  desire  the  cere- 
monial attending  her  burial  was  limited  to 
the  utmost  simplicity  compatible  with  her 
exalted  rank.  But  besides  the  State  officials, 
fulfilling  the  obligations  of  their  various  of- 
fices, the  royal  cortege  was  followed  during 
the  entire  distance  by  thousands  of  poor  and 
lowly  mourners  whose  bearing  testified  to  the 
wide-spread  and  genuine  grief  occasioned  by 
the  loss  of  their  generous  fellow-citizen. 

The  death  of  his  wife  was  followed  for 
Amadeus  by  a  long  period  of  terrible  depres- 
sion and  of  utter  discouragement.  Always 
strict  in  his  religious  observances  the  Prince 
now  became  fervently  devotional.  At  this 
time  the  rumor  was  widely  credited  of  his 
serious  intention  to  abandon  a  world  in  Avhich 
he  had   experienced   such  bitter  deceptions 


238        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

and  to  seek  the  living  death  of  the  cloister. 
Little  by  little,  however,  the  deep  moral  de- 
pression caused  by  his  domestic  misfortune 
gave  way  to  the  earnest  appreciation  of  his 
public  duties,  and  Amadeus  began  to  devote 
himself  passionately  to  military  affairs,  at  the 
same  time  taking  a  personal  share  in  the 
education  and  amusements  of  his  children. 

With  the  exception  of  trips  to  Paris,  Baden 
Baden,  Monte  Carlo,  and  other  places  fre- 
quented by  those  in  search  of  pleasure  or  dis- 
traction, the  Duke  continued  to  reside  in 
Turin.  To  Rome  he  went  but  rarely,  and 
only  when  his  presence  was  necessitated  by 
some  official  function,  or  business  connected 
with  family  matters. 

Shortly  after  the  death  of  Maria  Victoria 
the  family  had  returned  to  the  imposing 
Cisterna  Palace,  better  known  to-day  as 
the  Ducal  Palace,  and  there  established  a 
permanent  residence.  An  enthusiastic  wor- 
shipper of  the  beautiful,  and  possessed  of 
means  amply  sufficient  to  gratify  his  sesthetic 
tastes,  Amadeus  devoted  much  of  his  time  to 
beautifying  his  home  by  the  acquisition  of 
pictures  and  works  of  art.  At  the  same  time 
an  ardent  devotee  to  sport,  and  lover  of  horse- 
flesh, his  stables  were  filled  with  specimens 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  RONE.        289 

of  the  choicest  breeds,  and  his  purse  always 
open  for  the  encouragement  of  horsemanship 
both  in  his  own  country  and  abroad.  In 
Turin  his  life  was  one  of  the  greatest  sim- 
plicity and  freedom  from  constraint.  Accom- 
panied by  his  three  young  sons  the  Duke  was 
accustomed  daily  to  walk  about  the  streets, 
stopping  to  admire  tlie  shop  windows,  and 
freely  mingling  with  the  busy  crowds  in  the 
principal  thoroughfares.  Nor  was  it  an 
unusual  occurrence  for  him  to  enter  one  of 
the  numerous  cafes  and,  seating  himself  at 
one  of  the  small  marble  tables,  order  his  cup 
of  coffee  and  smoke  his  cigar  like  any  of 
the  jDcaceful  citizens  who  surrounded  him. 
Although  known  to  all,  Turin  soon  learnt 
that  Amadeus  preferred  to  be  recognized  by 
none  during  these  daily  prowls  and,  conse- 
quently, with  the  exception  of  a  respectful 
salute  when  unavoidably  brought  face  to  face, 
he  was  allowed  to  roam  at  pleasure  un- 
molested by  the  offensive  curiosity  of  the 
crowd. 

But  events  were  portending  which  were  to 
modify  the  semi-private  existence  led  by  the 
ex-King,  and  once  more  bring  his  personality 
prominently  before  the  public,  although  the 
stage  on  which  he  would  now  be  called  to 
19 


290        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

act  his  part  must  of  necessity  be  considerably 
more  restricted  than  that  he  had  occupied  in 
Spain. 

In  the  opening  days  of  1878  two  of  the 
leading  figures  of  the  most  active  period  of 
the  Italian  political  renaissance  were  to  dis- 
appear. Victor  Emmanuel,  the  Father  of 
Italian  Unity,  the  first  King  of  Italy,  and 
Pius  IX,  the  last  Pope-King,  within  a  few 
days  of  each  other  passed  forever  from  the 
scene  of  their  triumphs  or  misfortunes.  Con- 
queror and  Vanquished,  each  in  his  differ- 
ent sphere  had  been  the  idol,  the  mainspring  of 
the  creed  they  represented  :  each  had  fought 
valiantly  for  the  standards  they  upheld,  but 
for  both  the  hour  of  personal  activity  had 
passed.  Victor  Emmanuel,  now  that  the 
militant  period  of  the  unification  was  over, 
fretted  at  the  tame  constitutionalism  and 
rasping  etiquette  imposed  on  the  hero  whose 
life  had  been  spent  on  the  battlefield,  or  midst 
the  excitement  of  vital  political  issues.  Pius 
IX.  a  self-constituted  prisoner  within  the 
walls  of  his  Ecclesiastical  Palace,  had  lost  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world  at  large  the  political 
significance  he  had  maintained  as  a  temporal 
ruler,  and  had  acquired  that  of  an  awkward 
problem,  although  by  no  means  a  negligible 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        291 

quantity,  either  to  his  conqueror  or  the  rest 
of  Christendom.  If  the  Monarch,  amidst 
the  glorious  results  of  a  life  of  energy  and 
triumph,  was  weary  of  his  Kingly  trade,  the 
Pontiff  may  also  be  presumed  to  have  experi- 
enced lassitude  when  in  retrospect  he  con- 
templated the  long  series  of  humiliations  and 
deceptions  to  which  he  had  been  subjected, 
and  witnessed  the  growing  indifference  to 
his  political  decadence  manifested  by  thou- 
sands who  had  formerly  applauded  the  "  Papa 
Re." 

The  news  of  the  sudden  death  of  A^ictor 
Emmanuel,  coming  as  it  did  out  of  a  clear 
sky,  shook  Italy  to  her  foundations.  The 
greatness  of  the  man  could  not  be  justly  esti- 
mated during  his  lifetime,  while  even  now, 
at  an  interval  of  a  score  of  years,  his  colossal 
figure  looms  up  in  incomprehensible  grandeur. 
He  is  still  too  near  to  us  for  criticism — another 
generation  must  pass  before  the  magnitude 
of  his  influence  can  be  correctly  focussed. 
The  idol  of  his  people  while  he  lived,  he  has 
now  become  their  Washington. 

Amidst  the  consternation  caused  by  the 
death  of  this  national  hero,  that  of  his  van- 
quished rival,  Pius  IX. ,  passed  almost  unper- 
ceived.     The  Pope  never  dies  is   an  axiom 


292        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

which,  like  most  axioms,  must  be  interpreted 
according  to  the  circumstances  governing 
the  case  :  the  policy  of  the  Vatican  may  never 
die,  yet  its  success  or  failure  may  depend 
very  largely  on  the  characteristics  of  the  man 
wearing  the  tiara  at  the  moment  its  imposition 
is  deemed  expedient.  Where  Pius  IX.  failed 
Leo  XIII.  might  have  succeeded.  The  one 
swooned  when  informed  of  the  decision  of 
the  Conclave ;  the  same  notification  found 
the  other  fully  equipped  for  the  arduous  task 
he  was  to  undertake.  Given  the  same  cir- 
cumstances and  opportunities,  and  who  shall 
say  what  the  result  might  have  been  had  Leo 
XIII.  occupied  the  Chair  of  St  Peter  from 
1846  to  1878  I 


Amadeus  of  Savoy,  Duke  of  y4osta. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

Accession  of  King  Humbert.— Italy  in  1878.— The  Vatican.— 
Amadeus  actively  participates  in  affairs  of  the  State.— The 
cholera  at  Naples. — Visit  of  the  King  and  Amadeus.— Inci- 
dents during  their  stay  there.— Amadeus  returns  to  Turin. 
—Accident  at  station.— Military  duties.— Triple  Alliance.— 
African  colonial  extension.— Erithrea.— The  Duke's  charities. 

When,  on  his  accession  to  the  Throne,  King 
Humbert  for  the  first  time  opened  the  Italian 
Parliament,  Amadeus  stood  at  his  brother's 
side.  From  this  moment  we  find  him  promi- 
nently connected  with  public  affairs  and  con- 
stantly employed  in  the  service  of  his  country. 

By   royal  decree  of  January   27th,  1878, 

Amadeus    was   placed   in    command  of   the 

Seventh  Army  Corps,  with  headquarters  in 

Rome,    and  there   he    spent    all    the    time 

necessitated  by  his  military  duties,  inhabiting 

a  small  apartment  in  the  east  wing  of  the 

Quirinal  Palace.     Humbert  relied  much  on 

the  support  and  advice  of  his  brother,  while 

the  affection  which  had  always  closely  bound 

them  became  daily  stronger. 
293 


294        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

As  Crown  Prince  Humbert  had  had  few 
opportunities  of  becoming  known  to  the  great 
majority  of  his  future  subjects,  his  military 
valor,  exemplified  by  his  conduct  during  the 
memorable  episode  at  Villafranca  in  1866,  on 
which  occasion  lie,  in  common  with  his  brother, 
had  run  the  greatest  peril  and  covered  him- 
self with  glory,  was  indeed  a  matter  of  history ; 
but  in  politics  he  was  inexperienced  and  un- 
formed. The  succession  he  was  now  called 
upon  to  take  up  was  one  of  no  common  dif- 
ficulty even  for  a  politician  versed  in  the 
art  of  the  manipulation  of  men  and  parties. 
Much  which  had  been  overlooked,  or  con- 
doned, in  his  father  because  he  had  made 
United  Italy  would  be  subject  to  carping 
criticism  in  his  successor.  The  hei-oic  phase 
of  national  unification  was  over,  but  Italy 
found  herself  in  a  transition  stage,  presenting 
political  pitfalls  and  dangers  scarcely  less 
critical  than  those  attending  the  actual  con- 
quests by  force  of  arms  of  a  former  period. 
The  process  of  assimilating  and  harmonizing 
the  conflicting  interests  of  a  people  hardly 
understanding  the  same  language,  and  of 
widely  differing  customs,  laws  and  usages, 
was  to  prove  a  tedious  and  perilous  one. 
The  south  was  jealous  of  the  north :  to  the 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THIiOXE.        295 

Sicilian  and  the  Neapolitan  the  Piedmontese 
was  almost  a  barbarian,  and  when  his  presence 
was  felt  in  the  form  of  the  tax-gatherer  he 
became  uncommonly  like  an  oppressor.  If  a 
United  Italy  was  to  be  the  cause  for  increased 
taxation,  they  had  been  better  off  under  their 
own  Bomba.  In  the  Eternal  City  the  admin- 
istrative branches  of  the  Government  were 
far  from  feeling  at  home  after  a  sojourn  of 
over  seven  years,  while  the  colossal  buildings 
erected  for  the  accommodation  of  the  nation's 
finances  seemed  indeed  a  hollow  mockery. 
Even  the  legislative  sessions  were  marked 
by  demonstrations  of  petty  opposition  and 
party  intrigue  wholly  unworthy  of  the  patriot- 
ism of  those  who  had  purchased  at  the  cost  of 
noble  sacrifice  the  opportunities  now  within 
the  nation's  grasp. 

A  constitutional  Monarch  who  is  deter- 
mined to  scrupulously  fulfil  his  duty  is  fet- 
tered. His  chains  may  be  of  gold,  but  they 
are  chains  nevertheless.  Amadeus  had  early 
realized  this  in  Spain,  and  Humbert  was  to 
prove  no  exception  to  the  rule.  An  indi- 
vidual policy  unless  seconded  by  ministers 
and  Parliament  is  of  little  account :  the  Sov- 
ereign must  learn  to  rule  through  these,  if 
he  is  to  rule  at  all.     This  the  young  King 


296        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

quickly  grasped,  and  with  undaunted  courage 
set  about  his  task,  sacrificing  personal  inclina- 
tion or  preference  to  the  duties  of  his  position, 
and  the  best  interests  of  the  nation. 

With  the  death  of  Pio  Nono  and  the  ad- 
vent of  Leo  XIII.,  the  struggle  with  the 
Vatican  entered  upon  a  new  phase  which 
must  be  met  with  weapons  adapted  to  neu- 
tralize the  tactics  of  that  cunning  foe  :  the 
more  to  be  dreaded  by  reason  of  the  insidi- 
ous methods  employed  to  prejudice  the  judg- 
ment of  the  multitudes  blindly  accepting 
a  guidance  not  purely  spiritual,  and  a  juris- 
diction not  merely  moral.  Nor  was  Italy 
alone  to  suffer  from  the  effects  of  a  policy 
which  aimed  at  the  very  foundation  of  her 
future  being,  namely,  the  education  of  her 
youth.  Germany  with  the  Culturkampf, 
England  with  her  Irish  question,  the  United 
States,  Spain,  France,  in  a  word  the  civilized 
world,  were  to  feel,  in  one  degree  or  another, 
the  tremendous  power  still  wielded  by  the 
humble  prisoner  from  behind  the  walls  of  his 
stronghold. 

During  the  next  twelve  years  Amadeus 
was  the  alter  ego  of  the  King :  the  trusted 
confidant  and  counsellor ;  the  deputy  who, 
by  virtue  of  his  exalted  rank,  was  employed 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUItONE.        297 

on  missions  of  such  nature  as  were  beyond 
the  sphere  of  an  ordinary  ambassador.  As 
such  we  hear  of  him  at  the  Courts  of  Berlin, 
St.  Petersburg,  London  and  Lisbon.  With 
his  appointment  as  Inspector-General  of  the 
Army  in  1879  his  military  duties  became  still 
more  engrossing,  while  in  addition  to  his 
labors  as  a  soldier  those  scarcely  less  ardu- 
ous pertaining  to  his  roj^al  rank  made  fre- 
quent demands  and  inroads  upon  his  privacy. 
In  spite  of  these  the  Prince  insisted  upon 
making  his  home  in  Turin  whence,  when 
necessity  compelled,  he  would  journey  to  the 
utmost  limits  of  the  Kingdom  to  return 
again,  once  the  duty  accomplished,  to  his  be- 
loved fireside. 

It  was  during  one  of  these  sojourns  in  his 
native  city  that,  in  September,  188-1,  the  news 
reached  Amadeus  of  his  brother's  determina- 
tion to  visit  his  cholera-stricken  subjects  in 
Naples.  The  Prince  read  the  telegram  an- 
nouncing the  King's  impending  departure 
for  the  south  in  a  newspaper  purchased  dur- 
ing a  stroll  through  the  streets.  Glancing 
at  his  watch,  he  discovered  that  he  had  exactly 
the  requisite  time  to  reach  the  railway  station 
before  the  departure  of  the  next  express  for 
Rome. 


298        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

As  he  jumped  into  the  first  cab  lie  found 
he  cried  out  to  those  in  his  company  at  the 
time :  "  I  am  off  to  Naples  with  His  Majesty. 
If  there  is  a  danger  to  be  faced  my  place  is 
at  his  side." 

On  this  occasion  the  Prince's  luggage  con- 
sisted of  the  walking-stick  he  carried  in  his 
hand. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  eighth  Ama- 
deus  reached  Rome,  and  a  couple  of  hours 
later  the  train  bringing  the  King  entered  the 
station.  The  greeting  between  the  brothers 
was  full  of  affectionate  tenderness  :  each  was 
secretly  proud  of  the  other,  yet  each  refrained 
from  expressions  of  surprise  or  admiration. 
On  the  platform  Signor  Depretis,  at  that  time 
Italian  Prime  Minister,  also  awaited  the  King, 
and  announced  that,  in  spite  of  his  advanced 
age  (he  was  then  nearly  seventy),  he  de- 
sired to  take  part  in  the  journey  to  Naples. 
The  railway  station  was  surrounded  by  an 
immense  crowd  which  had  gathered  to  testif}^ 
to  the  universal  admiration  the  King's  con- 
duct gave  rise  to  in  the  Capital.  Cheer  after 
cheer  thundered  forth  when,  at  a  few  minutes 
after  nine  o'clock,  the  King  and  Amadeus 
entered  the  train,  which  slowly  steamed  out 
of  the  Roman  station  on  its  way  to  the  plague- 


TUE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        299 

infested  south.  A  continual  ovation  greet- 
ed the  Sovereign  as  he  passed  the  wayside 
stations  on  his  noble  errand  of  charity  and 
devotion. 

At  four  o'clock  the  same  afternoon  Naples 
was  reached.  Here  the  royal  tiavellers  were 
received  with  frantic  demonstrations  of  affec- 
tionate loyalty :  the  cries  of  "  Long  live  Hum- 
bert," "  Long  life  to  Amadeus,"  acted  like 
strong  drink  on  the  multitudes  who  awaited 
their  Sovereign  as  they  might  have  awaited 
the  Redeemer.  Men  and  women  wept  as  they 
beheld  the  royal  brothers  drive  through  the 
streets ;  some  knelt  as  they  passed,  as  they 
knelt  when  the  sacred  images  were  displayed 
at  Piedigrotta,  and  invoked  the  blessings  of 
Heaven  on  the  head  of  the  "  Second  Father 
of  his  Country,"  as  Naples  now  styled  Hum- 
bert. Amidst  the  wildest  enthusiasm  the 
royal  equipages  made  their  way  to  the 
Palace,  in  front  of  which  the  wild  tumult 
reached  the  liighest  pitch  of  frenzied  devo- 
tion. 

In  various  quarters  of  the  town,  inhabited 
by  the  most  ignorant  and  squalid  classes  of 
the  population,  the  sanitary  measures  carried 
out,  or  prescribed  by  the  municipal  authori- 
ties, had  given  rise  to  dogged  opposition  or 


300        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

open  revolt.  The  miserable  populace  refused 
to  abandon  the  foul  dens  in  which  they  lived, 
or  to  cease  drinking  the  polluted  water  of 
the  wells  into  which  all  the  filth  and  abom- 
inations of  the  neighborhood  filtered.  Be- 
fore this  fierce  fanaticism  the  resources  of 
science  were  powerless,  while  in  the  face  of 
threatened  expulsion  the  living  rose  to  defend 
their  putrid  dead,  themselves  in  turn  falling 
easy  victims  to  their  senseless  bigotry.  In 
vain  had  the  doctors  struggled  against  this 
idolatry  of  filth :  in  vain  had  the  Cardinal- 
Archbishop  himself  exhorted  the  people  to 
obey  the  decrees  issued  by  the  sanitary  com- 
missions ;  it  was  by  force  alone  that  any 
attempts  at  sanitation  could  be  accomp- 
lished. 

Naturally  enough  many  of  those  whose 
circumstances  permitted  had  sought  safety 
from  the  fell  disease  in  flight ;  it  is  worthy 
of  record,  however,  that  several  members  of 
the  highest  aristocracy  remained  in  their 
homes  to  render  what  assistance  they  could, 
while  the  conduct  of  the  Government  and 
municipal  officials  was  in  many  instances 
subject  of  admiration  throughout  the  length 
and  breadth  of  Italy. 

In  the  course  of  the  day  after  their  arrival 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        301 

Humbert  and  Amadeus,  accompanied  by  the 
faithful  members  of  their  respective  staffs,  by 
Signor  Depretis,  His  Eminence  the  Cardinal- 
Arclibishop  Sanfelice,  and  others,  began  their 
inspection  of  the  hospitals,  temporary  shelters, 
and  sanitary  arrangements.  On  these  missions 
of  mercy  His  Majesty  insisted  on  being  ini- 
tiated into  every  detail  of  the  work  in  hand. 
Day  after  day  the  two  brothers  walked  side  by 
side  amongst  the  horrors  of  tlie  jilague-stricken 
city,  bringing  relief  to  tliose  to  whom  relief 
was  still  possible,  and  consolation  and  sym- 
pathy to  the  poor  wretches  beyond  the  reach 
of  human  aid.  With  words  of  praise  and 
encouragement  they  urged  on  the  unselfish 
workers  in  the  congested  districts,  where  the 
dead  and  dying  lay  side  by  side  amidst  the 
loathsome  filth  and  sickening  stench  of  name- 
less poverty.  In  their  daily  rounds  of  the 
hospitals  they  paused  at  every  bed,  promising 
the  victims  of  the  deadly  scourge  that  their 
dear  ones  should  be  provided  for,  and  sooth- 
ing the  agonies  of  the  doomed.  To  the 
widows  and  orphans  sheltered  in  the  hastily- 
constructed  tenements  to  which  they  were 
conveyed  after  the  destruction  of  their  pesti- 
lential dens,  the  King  and  Amadeus  came  in 
the  light   of   a  Providence   to   whicli   they 


302        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

clung  with  the  tenacity  of  utter  despair  and 
lielplessness. 

The  moral  effect  of  the  Sovereign's  visit 
was  excellent,  and  reacted  on  the  vitality  of 
a  naturally  careless  population,  easily  cast 
down  but  equally  prompt  in  its  recuperative 
forces  once  the  stimulus  given.  The  plague 
was  raging  furiously  on  the  arrival  of  the 
royal  brothers,  and  the  death-roll  reached  its 
maximum  on  the  second  day  of  their  stay  in 
Naples ;  from  that  date,  with  occasional  oscil- 
lations, it  began  gradually  to  decrease.  Al- 
though this  diminution  in  the  mortality  re- 
turns must  be  attributed  in  great  part  to  the 
change  of  temperature,  the  value  of  the  King's 
example  in  stimulating  the  exertions,  not 
only  of  the  officials  but  of  the  people  them- 
selves, to  trample  out  the  scourge,  should  not 
be  under-estimated. 

In  spite  of  the  entreaties  of  those  around 
him.  His  Majesty  refused  to  entertain  any 
suggestion  of  departure  until  a  decided  and 
undoubted  improvement  in  the  sanitary  con- 
ditions of  the  province  should  have  taken 
place.  To  those  who  urged  exaggerated  pre- 
cautions for  his  personal  safety,  he  replied 
that  while  he  would  not  willingly  lay  him- 
self open  to  infection,  yet  his  first  duty  being 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       303 

the  care  of  his  stricken  subjects,  his  inter- 
course with  those  most  in  need  of  his  aid 
must  not  be  interfered  with.  Nor  would 
the  King  passively  accept  oflicial  reports 
concerning  the  condition  of  certain  hospital 
wards,  or  quarters  of  the  city ;  but  insisted, 
often  to  the  chagrin  of  those  responsible,  on 
a  personal  inspection  of  every  detail. 

To  Baron  Nicotera,  who  was  especially 
urgent  and  diligent  in  advancing  reasons 
of  state  for  extraordinary  precautions  and 
immediate  departure,  Humbert  smilingly 
retorted : 

"  Do  you,  who  have  been  Minister  of  the 
Interior,  thus  interpret  individual  liberty? 
There  is  room  for  us  all  here  in  Naples." 

Finally,  on  September  fourteenth,  the  situ- 
ation had  so  much  improved  that  the  royal 
party  again  started  on  the  journey  north. 
Before  leaving  Naples  the  King  handed  the 
Syndic  the  sum  of  three  hundred  thousand 
francs  (sixty  thousand  dollars)  to  be  used  in 
giving  aid  to  those  incapacitated  by  illness, 
and  for  the  relief  of  orphans  left  destitute 
and  homeless. 

Meanwhile  thousands  of  telegrams  and 
congratulatory  addresses  had  poured  in : 
every  city  in  Italy  testified  to  its  admiration 


304        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

of  the  noble  self-denial  of  the  royal  brothers, 
and  of  the  courage  of  the  officials  who  had 
accompanied  then  in  their  daily  rounds. 
Turin  prepared  to  give  the  Prince  a  welcome 
worthy  of  the  son  she  was  so  justly  proud  of. 
The  national  exposition  he  had  done  so  much 
to  promote  and  encourage  was  about  to  close, 
and  the  usual  population  of  the  city  was  in- 
creased by  thousands  drawn  thither  by  its 
manifold  attractions ;  the  opportunity  was 
consequently  exceptional. 

When  Amadeus  descended  from  the  train 
at  Turin,  he  found  the  station  and  adjacent 
streets  one  solid  mass  of  fellow-citizens  and 
visitors  flocked  hither  to  do  him  honor. 
As  each  group  caught  a  glimpse  of  the  heroic 
Prince  the  frantic  cheers  redoubled,  and  the 
popular  enthusiasm  increased  at  every  step. 

Hardly  had  the  carriage  slowly  passed  out 
from  the  station  yard  when  a  terrific  crash 
silenced  the  hearty  greetings  of  the  crowd. 
A  portico  of  masonry  in  course  of  construc- 
tion had  suddenly  collapsed  at  the  very  mo- 
ment the  royal  carriage  passed  before  it,  and 
buried  in  its  fall  the  five  workmen  at  work 
at  the  time.  With  a  cry  of  horror  Amadeus 
sprang  from  the  carriage  and  rushed  to  the 
scene  of  disaster,  which  he  was  the  first  to 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        305 

reach.  With  his  own  hands  he  began  tearing 
away  the  debris  in  the  hope  of  releasing  the 
unfortunate  victims.  In  vain  was  his  atten- 
tion called  to  the  dangerous  state  of  the  walls 
still  standing ;  until  the  last  man  was  rescued 
the  Prince  refused  to  leave  the  spot. 

As  well  may  be  imagined,  this  dramatic  in- 
cident, affording  ocular  proof  of  the  coura- 
geous energy  of  the  man  they  had  come  forth 
to  welcome,  gave  rise  to  a  scene  of  popular 
enthusiasm  which  defies  description.  The 
Prince's  carriage  was  taken  by  assault  by 
those  eager  to  grasp  his  hand  and  give  utter- 
ance to  the  admiration  they  felt  for  their  fel- 
low-citizen who,  having  but  just  turned  his 
back  on  dangers  incurred  while  ministering 
to  those  afflicted  by  a  terrible  epidemic,  did 
not  hesitate  a  moment  to  face  the  peril  of  tot- 
tering walls  In  the  attempt  to  rescue  the  lowly 
victims  of  a  prosaic  building  accident  in  his 
native  city. 

The  military  duties  assigned  to  Amadeus 
had  proved  no  sinecure,  and  had  indeed  de- 
manded his  close  and  constant  attention. 
This  the  Prince  accorded  ungrudgingly,  for 
his  heart  w^as  in  his  work,  and  he  possessed 
the  true  soldierly  pride  in  the  advancement 

and  efficiency  of  military  science  andorganiza- 
20 


306       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

tion.  With  her  admission  into  the  alliance 
alread}^  existing  between  Germany  and  Aus- 
tria (lience forth  to  be  known  as  the  Triple 
Alliance),  Italy  had  assumed  the  military  and 
naval  obligations  and  responsibilities  of  a  first- 
class  Power.  The  constantly  recurring  scare 
of  French  intervention,  in  ecclesiastical  af- 
airs,  or  even  an  invasion  to  restore  the  tem- 
poral power,  had  led,  on  the  pai't  of  Italy,  to 
the  cultivation  of  intimate  relations  with  the 
two  great  central  Powers.  The  financial 
and  commercial  wisdom  of  the  adhesion, 
which  was  to  irrevocably  alienate  French 
sympathies  may  be  questioned :  politically 
it  must  be  looked  upon  as  no  mean  factor  in 
the  long  series  of  peaceful  years  enjoyed  by 
the  great  European  nations.  Nevertheless 
the  demands  imposed  by  the  obligations  she 
was  forced  to  assume  have  cost  Italy  sacri- 
fices of  the  most  onerous  kind,  while  they  have 
taxed  her  resources  to  the  utmost  limits  of 
endurance.  The  injuries  done  her  material 
prosperity  by  the  rupture  of  amicable  com- 
mercial relations  with  France  have  not  been 
counterbalanced  by  any  great  financial  ad- 
vantages in  other  quarters,  or  even  been 
attended  by  the  equivocal  compensation  of 
glorious  feats   of  arms.     To  the   great  mass 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        307 

of  Italians  the  Aiistro-Prussiau  alliance  was 
not  merely  distasteful  but  antipathetic  and 
frankly  incomprehensible.  For  generations 
the  Austrian  had  been  held  up  to  them  as 
the  embodiment  of  their  bitterest  foe — an  op- 
pressor ;  a  hated  tyrant ;  whose  destruction 
was  to  be  encompassed  by  every  means  at 
their  disposal.  Now  they  were  told  that  their 
salvation  lay  in  cultivating  the  closest  politi- 
cal and  social  relationship  with  that  countr}', 
and  with  another  Teutonic  nation  which  in 
their  ignorance  they  confounded  with  their 
late  enemy.  Villafranca  had  been  a  bitter 
pill  to  swallow,  while  the  cession  of  Nice  and 
Savoy  had  opened  many  previously  blinded 
eyes  concerning  the  disinterestedness  of 
French  friendship.  But  to  the  former  there 
had  at  least  been  a  golden  coating  of  military 
glory,  while  even  the  latter  had  had  some  "sem- 
blance of  plausibility  "  in  the  affinity  of  lan- 
guage and  origin.  The  strength  of  the  politi- 
cal advocates  of  the  new  alliance  lay  in  their 
fidelity  to  the  Crown,  and  the  most  cherished 
of  national  conservative  institutions.  Those 
loudest  in  their  denunciations  of  the  Austro- 
Germanic  compact  were  advowedly  anti-dy- 
nastic in  their  home  politics  :  to  a  great  ex- 
tent agitators   whose  professed    sympathies 


308        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

with  their  Latin  sister  were  prompted  rather 
by  her  republican  form  of  government  than 
by  any  considerations  of  blood-relationship. 
To  these  the  prime  object  of  a  French  alliance 
was  the  introduction  and  fostering  of  French 
radical  institutions  of  the  most  advanced  and, 
naturally,  anti-clerical  type. 

A  different  feeling  existed  in  military 
circles,  even  amongst  those  uninfluenced  by 
political  considerations.  By  virtue  of  this 
alliance  the  Italian  officer  became  a  partner 
of  the  most  military  nation  in  Europe,  whose 
legions  had  but  recently  won  the  admiration 
and  applause  of  the  civilized  world.  Profes- 
sional pride  was  stimulated  to  the  utmost, 
and  an  incalculable  impetus  given  to  military 
affairs  throughout  the  Kingdom,  by  which 
the  reorganization  and  remodelling  of  both 
branches  of  the  service  became  topics  of  ab- 
sorbing interest  in  parliamentary  debate  as 
well  as  in  the  military  clubs. 

Martial  enthusiasm  was  further  intensified 
by  the  recently  inaugurated  policy  of  African 
colonial  extension.  The  opportunity  lost  at 
Tunis  was  to  be  amply  atoned  for  by  the  de- 
velopment of  Massaua  and  expansion  of 
Erithrea.  In  spite  of  the  disaster  of  Dogali, 
or  perhaps  on  account  of  it,  oiBcial  enthusi- 


TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        309 

asm  for  Abyssinian  conquest  was  inflamed  to 
fever  heat,  yet  this  again  was  purely  pro- 
fessional ;  the  occupation  of  Massaua  was  a 
political  and  military  achievement ;  as  a  co- 
lonial enterprise  it  was  from  the  first  a  dis- 
tinct failure.  The  Italian  emigrant  contin- 
ued to  prefer  expatriation  in  the  Argentine, 
or  United  States,  to  the  comparatively  thank- 
less soil  and  extreme  climate  of  the  Red  Sea 
province,  and  this  notwithstanding  the  sub- 
stantial inducements  temptingly  dangled  be- 
fore his  eyes  by  Government  or  private 
agencies.  On  the  other  hand,  the  native 
population  of  the  new  colony  had  little  or 
nothing  to  offer  in  exchange  for  the  products 
of  Italian  manufacturing  industries.  What- 
ever riches  the  newly  baptized  Erithrea  had 
formerly  possessed  had  died  Avith  the  sup- 
pression of  the  slave-trade,  and  the  diver- 
gence of  caravan-commerce  into  new  chan- 
nels. But  as  a  school  of  war  its  value  was 
considerable.  To  the  student  of  military- 
science  in  search  of  an  opportunity  for  the 
practical  application  of  theoretical  tactics  it 
offered  a  field  of  operations  not  to  be  de- 
spised. In  quarrels  with  neighboring  tribes, 
and  later  with  the  Negus  himself,  it  certainly 
afforded   Italian  Generals   experiences — not 


310        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

universally  agreeable,  however — which  they 
would  have  sought  in  vain  on  the  parade- 
ground,  or  field  of  manoeuvres  at  home. 
The  difficulties  encountered  for  the  rapid 
transportation  of  large  bodies  of  troops  by 
sea  and  land,  together  with  the  organization 
and  maintenance  of  a  vast  commissariat  in  a 
distant  and  almost  uninhabited  country,  were 
met  with  an  efficiency  and  promptness  wdiich 
was  subject  for  congratulation  and  just  pride. 

As  Inspector-General  of  the  Army,  and 
later  as  Inspector  General  of  Cavalry,  Ama- 
deus  had  in  no  mean  degree  contributed  to 
the  reorganization  and  military  education  of 
the  national  forces.  The  latter  appointment 
had  proved  most  congenial  to  the  Prince, 
whose  predilection  for  that  arm  was  well- 
known.  The  duties  were  onerous,  necessitat- 
ing frequent  expeditions  to  the  various  gar- 
risons of  the  Peninsula,  but  these  he  never 
failed  to  fulfil  with  a  conscientious  regularity 
hardly  to  be  expected  of  one  whose  manifold 
social  and  political  duties  might  have  been 
presumed  to  occasionally  clash  with  the  strict 
observance  of  military  discipline. 

When  not  on  active  service  Turin  remained 
the  Prince's  headquarters.  Continuing  the 
noble  example  set  by  Maria  Victoria,  Ama- 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  RONE.        311 

deus  interested  himself  in  the  charituble  in- 
stitutions of  the  city  and  environs,  and  per- 
sonally superintended  the  disbursement  cf 
his  donations.  It  was  not  only  the  institu- 
tions for  the  relief  of  the  poor  and  destitute 
which  bore  -witness  of  the  Prince's  unflag- 
ging bounty  ;  many  a  member  of  some  noble 
family  fallen  into  decay,  scores  of  humble 
employees  in  momentary  pecuniary  embar- 
rassment, were  tided  over  their  difficulties 
by  the  timely  generosity  of  thfeir  royal  patron  : 
many  an  officer's  widow,  or  the  orphans  of 
a  soldier,  owed  the  little  comforts  of  life 
denied  them  by  their  narrow  pensions,  to 
the  kindness  of  a  heart  never  hardened  to 
the  appeals  of  sorrow  and  distress.  In  most 
cases  some  investigation  w'as  made  of  the 
circumstances  which  led  to  the  application, 
but  in  many  others  the  mere  application  for 
aid  was  considered  sufficient  by  the  Prince, 
who  held  the  theory  that  it  was  better  to  be 
occasionally  deceived  by  an  unworthy  peti- 
tioner than  to  turn  away  real  distress  for  the 
want  of  proper  credentials. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

The  Princess  Clotilde.— Her  marriage  and  early  years.— Mar- 
riage of  Amadeus  to  his  niece  Princess  Laetitia.— Birth  of 
Count  of  Salemi.— Beginning  of  fatal  illness.— Visit  to  Caserta. 
—Incident  there.— The  Duke  takes  to  his  bed.— Alarming 
symptoms. — Arrival  of  King  Humbert. — Last  moments. — 
Death  of  Amadeus.— Funeral  ceremonies. 

At  Moncalieri,  hard-by,  in  the  huge  bar- 
rack-like palace  where  Victor  Emmanuel  I. 
died  in  1824,  and  where  Amadeus  himself 
had  spent  much  of  his  childhood  during  the 
reign  of  Charles  Albert,  and  the  early  years 
of  the  eventful  rule  of  Victor  Emmanuel  II., 
lived  the  Duke's  eldest  sister,  the  Princess 
Clotilde. 

Married  in  1859  to  Prince  Jerome  Bona- 
parte, cousin  of  the  Emperor  Napoleon  the 
Third,  not  from  inclination  but  as  the  result 
of  the  famous  Plombiere's  interview  between 
the  Emperor  and  Count  Cavour,  the  Princess's 
life  had  for  years  been  one  of  bitter  decep- 
tion and  disappointment.     The  gay  existence 

of  the  Tuileries  had  never  appealed  to  the 
312 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        313 

daughter  of  tlie  House  of  Savoy,  accustomed 
from  infancy  to  the  duties  and  stern  respon- 
sibilities of  power  rather  than  the  brilliancy 
and  glamour  it  carried  in  its  train.  These 
views,  combined  with  a  rather  austere  exterior 
and  unyielding  reserve,  had  not  contributed  to 
any  personal  success  of  the  young  l)ride  at  the 
Court  of  her  Imperial  cousin.  Prince  Jerome, 
while  possessing  to  a  marked  degree  brilliancy 
of  intellect,  was  lacking  in  the  amiable  quali- 
ties indispensable  for  popularity,  w]i\\e  his 
misplaced  jealousy  often  brought  him  politi- 
cally in  open  antagonism  with  the  Emperor. 

Under  these  circumstances,  and  the  wide 
divergence  of  their  views  on  religious  ques- 
tions, the  union  was  hardly  calculated  to 
contribute  to  the  domestic  happiness  of  either 
party.  Holding  the  convictions  she  held, 
the  occupation  of  Rome,  and  the  policy  of 
the  Italian  Government  in  regard  to  the 
Vatican,  were  blows  from  which  her  relig- 
ious conscience  never  rallied. 

After  the  fall  of  the  French  Empire  the 
family  of  Prince  Jerome  had  resided  prin- 
cipally on  their  beautiful  estate  of  Prangins, 
on  the  Lake  of  Geneva,  but  on  the  death  of 
Victor  Emmanuel  the  Princess  had  returned 
to  Italy,  and  made  her  home  in  Turin.     Her 


314        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

two  sous,  Prince  Victor  and  Prince  Louis, 
were  naturally  much  from  home,  but  Princess 
Lsetitia,  her  only  daughter,  resided  almost 
continuously  with  her  mother. 

During  his  frequent  visits  to  Moncalieri 
Amadeus  was  very  dependent  on  the  society 
of  his  niece,  the  charming  Princess  Laetitia, 
and,  in  spite  of  the  relationship  and  differ- 
ence of  age,  a  warm  attachment  sprang  up 
between  them.  The  idea  of  a  marriage  was 
at  first  received  with  great  repugnance  by 
the  members  of  the  royal  family,  but  the 
Prince's  determination  finally  overcame  all 
opposition,  and  the  union  was  solemnized  in 
Turin  on  September  11,  1888.  On  this  oc- 
casion the  Prince's  j-ounger  sister,  Maria  Pia, 
Queen  of  Portugal,  together  with  the  King, 
her  husband,  and  the  members  of  the  Houses 
of  Savoy  and  Bonaparte,  assembled  in  Turin, 
lending  by  their  presence  special  magnificence 
to  an  event  which  was  characterized  by  much 
ceremony  and  pomp. 

On  the  22d  of  June  of  the  following  year 
the  young  Duchess  of  Aosta  was  delivered 
of  a  son,  who  received  the  name  of  Humbert, 
and  on  wliom  liis  uncle  bestowed  the  title  of 
Count  of  Sal  em  i,  in  commemoration  of  the 
decree,  signed  by  Garibaldi  and  Crispi  in  the 


Princess  Laetitia  Bonaparte.  Douager  Duches 
of  Aosia. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  Til  RONE.        315 

towu  of  that  name  in  18GG,  proclaiming  the 
national  unity  under  the  sovereignty  of  the 
Savoy  Dynasty. 

During  the  summer  of  1889  the  Prince 
was  troubled  almost  continuously  with  a 
cough  which,  greatly  to  his  annoyance,  he 
found  it  impossible  to  completely  shake  off. 
In  spite  of  this  ailment  he  continued  to  oc- 
cupy himself  with  military  duties,  frequently 
exceeding  arduous,  without  the  least  care  or 
thought  of  his  physical  condition.  On  the 
death  of  his  brother-in-law,  the  King  of  Port- 
ugal, in  October  of  the  same  year,  it  became 
necessary  for  Amadeus  to  attend  the  funeral 
ceremonies  as  the  deputy  of  his  royal  brother. 
The  journey,  combined  with  the  painful 
nature  of  his  errand,  greatly  taxed  his 
strength,  which  was  still  further  undermined 
by  attacks  of  intermittent  fever.  Heedless 
of  all  advice,  the  Prince  continued  to  ride  out 
in  all  weathers,  frequently  returning  home 
drenched  to  the  skin,  and  racked  by  the  per- 
sistent cough. 

Notwithstanding  his  obvious  physical  un- 
fitness, Amadeus  started  in  December  for 
Caserta  to  inspect  the  cavalry  regiments 
quartered  there.  On  the  day  after  his  ar- 
rival the  Prince  passed  nine  hours  on  horse- 


316        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

back,  in  a  continuous  deluge  of  rain,  and 
leturnedto  the  hotel  where  he  had  established 
his  residence,  thoroughly  drenched  and  shiver- 
ing with  cold.  The  same  evening,  during  a 
dinner  to  which  had  been  invited  several 
of  the  officers  in  command,  Amadeus  was 
seized  with  such  a  violent  paroxysm  of 
coughing  that  he  was  obliged  to  leave  the 
table. 

Although  on  his  return  to  Turin  the  Prince 
did  his  best  to  conceal  or  make  light  of  his 
condition,  it  was  apparent  to  those  about 
him  that  he  suffered  considerably.  For 
months  past  it  had  seemed  as  if  his  very 
nature  had  undergone  some  mysterious 
change  :  he  so  universally  cheerful  now  ap- 
peared morose ;  he  whose  kind  word  and  gay 
jest  was  proverbial  had  of  late  become 
peevish  and  irritable  in  his  intercourse  with 
those  who  approached  him.  And  especially 
was  this  ill-humor  noticed  when  any  refer- 
ence was  made  in  his  presence  to  his  altered 
state  of  health,  or  when  the  most  ordinary 
precautions  were  suggested. 

At  last  the  day  came  when  Amadeus  could 
fight  no  longer  against  the  terrible  foe  whose 
hand  was  on  his  throat.  On  January  13th, 
1890,   he    consented   to   put   himself  under 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.        317 

the  doctor's  care,  and  take  to  his  bed.  Once 
his  head  on  the  pillow  his  old  serenity  of 
manner  seemed  to  return. 

"  Life  is  a  voyage,"  he  exclaimed  as  he 
settled  himself.  "  I  have  done  with  travel- 
ling," he  added  a  moment  later.  Words 
which  he  repeated  on  the  last  day  of  his  life, 
scarcely  a  week  later. 

Although  no  serious  consequences  were  at 
first  anticipated,  the  pneumonia,  for  such  it 
proved  to  be,  rapidly  assumed  an  intensity 
which  justified  the  greatest  anxiety.  The 
news  spread  quickly  throughout  Turin  caus- 
ing general  consternation,  while  Italy  and 
all  Europe  anxiously  followed  the  progress 
of  the  disease  in  one  who,  although  his  hour 
of  celebrity  had  been  brief,  yet  had  always 
occupied  an  exalted  position  on  the  stage  of 
political  events,  and  whose  close  proximity 
to  a  throne  placed  him  in  the  foremost  rank. 

On  January  seventeenth,  the  bulletin, 
issued  by  Doctors  Bacelli,  Bruno,  Gamba, 
Bozzolo  and  Turletti,  announced  that  the 
general  weakness  of  the  patient  had  increased, 
and  that  the  Prince's  condition  must  be  con- 
sidered most  serious. 

A  little  before  noon  on  the  same  day 
Cardinal    Alimonda,  Archbishop    of   Turin, 


318        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THBONE. 

personally  visited  the  Prince,  and  adminis- 
tered the  Sacrament. 

The  news  that  the  Prince  had  received  the 
last  consolation  of  the  Church  spread  like 
wild-fire  through  the  astounded  city,  and  the 
streets  adjacent  to  the  Ducal  palace  were 
quickly  thronged  by  thousands  of  sympa- 
thizers from  all  classes  of  society.  Hour  by 
liour  official  bulletins  were  issued,  and,  passing 
through  the  expectant  crowd,  were  rapidly 
disseminated,  not  only  in  the  city  and  sub- 
urbs, but  throughout  the  length  and  breadth 
of  Italy. 

At  the  first  alarm  King  Humbert  hurriedly 
left  the  capital,  and  travelled  as  fast  as  steam 
could  carry  him  to  the  bedside  of  his  beloved 
brother.  At  every  station  where  a  stop  was 
necessary  telegrams  were  handed  His  Maj- 
esty, each  of  which  held  out  fainter  promise 
that  he  could  arrive  in  time.  As  a  last  re- 
source the  doctors  in  attendance  administered 
oxygen  in  the  hope  that  life  might  be  pro- 
longed at  least  sufficiently  to  permit  the 
Prince  to  embrace  once  more  his  royal  brother, 
and  to  this  end  the  patient  harbored  every 
particle  of  his  failing  strength. 

Finally,  at  one  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of 
the  eighteenth,  the  train  drew  up  in  the  Turin 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TUnoyE.        319 

station,  and  the  King  sprang  to  the  platform, 
where  his  brother-in-law,  the  Duke  of  Genoa, 
was  in  waiting.  Hastily  greeting  the  local 
authorities  assembled  to  welcome  the  sover- 
eign, Humbert,  accompanied  by  the  Duke, 
entered  a  carriage  and  was  rapidly  driven  to 
the  Cisterna  Palace.  As  he  passed  through 
the  silent  crowds  which  lined  the  streets,  His 
Majesty's  face  wore  a  look  of  such  intense 
anguish  that  it  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of 
many  a  spectator.  The  royal  carriage  was 
received  in  the  court-yard  of  the  palace  by  the 
Prince's  young  sons,  the  Duke  delle  Puglie 
and  Count  of  Turin.  Embracing  his  nephews 
the  King  at  once  made  his  way  to  the  sick- 
room where,  to  his  intense  relief,  lie  found 
his  brother  still  conscious  and  able  to  speak, 

"  See,"  he  faintly  murmured  as  he  held  the 
hand  he  loved  so  well,  "  I  have  allowed  the 
doctors  to  torment  and  torture  me,  and  have 
taken  everything  they  prescribed,  in  order  to 
be  enabled  to  enjoy  the  supreme  consolation 
of  expiring  in  your  arms." 

The  King,  choking  with  suppressed  emo- 
tion, affectionately  endeavored  to  encourage 
the  sufferer  with  words  of  cheerful  opti- 
mism : 

"  No,  dear  Humbert,"  sighed  the  Prince, 


320        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

"  it  is  now  only  a  question  of  hours  ;  but  I  die 
happy,  having  been  permitted  to  embrace  you 
once  again." 

Turning  to  Princess  Clotilde  Amadeus 
asked  to  be  given  the  crucifix  which  hung  over 
his  bed.  Kissing  the  image,  and  handing  it  to 
his  wife  to  kiss,  he  gently  besought  her  that 
when  he  was  gone  it  should  be  placed  between 
his  folded  hands.  To  his  brother  he  confided 
those  dear  to  him,  while  he  urgently  charged 
those  around  him  with  affectionate  messages 
for  his  third  son,  Prince  Louis,  Duke  of  the 
Abruzzi,  at  that  moment  on  service  on  a  frig- 
ate in  South  American  waters.  Of  the  King 
he  requested  that  his  farewell  greetings  be 
conveyed  to  his  comrades  in  arms. 

His  mind  seemed  at  this  time  particularly 
clear  and  active,  especially  when  he  gave 
some  directions  concerning  the  funeral  cere- 
monies, which  he  desired  should  be  of  a 
military  character,  and  as  simple  as  circum- 
stances would  permit.  He  expressed  strong 
aversion  to  having  his  remains  embalmed,  or 
that  they  should  be  suffered  to  lie  in  state. 

At  half-past  five  the  Prince's  condition  ap- 
peared more  easy,  and  those  present  withdrew 
into  the  adjoining  room  in  order  that  he 
might  rest  more  quietly. 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TURONE.        321 

An  hour  later,  however,  they  were  hastily 
re-assemblecl  round  the  bed,  for  the  death- 
agony  had  begun. 

At  ten  minutes  to  seven  on  the  evening  of 
January  eighteenth  Araadeus  breathed  his 
last  in  the  arms  of  King  Humbert. 

By  order  of  the  King,  Count  Balbo,  Grand 
Master  of  the  Ducal  Household,  immediately 
left  the  death-chamber  and  communicated  the 
sad  news  to  the  Captain  of  the  Guard,  who 
in  turn  informed  the  crowds  thronging  the 
streets  leading  to  the  palace.  Thus  from 
mouth  to  mouth  the  tidings  spread  rapidly 
over  the  city,  bringing  mourning  and  grief  to 
all  classes  of  tlie  population. 

To  the  Syndic  and  Prefect,  who  arrived 
simultaneously  at  the  palace,  the  King, 
weeping  bitterly,  exclaimed :  "  I  have  lost 
my  dearest  and  most  sturdy  support ;  the 
trusted  and  devoted  counsellor  from  whom 
my  heart  had  no  secrets." 

The  death  was  at  once  officially  communi- 
cated to  Signor  Crispi,  then  Prime  Minister  ; 
and  through  Count  Giannotti,  Grand  Master 
of  the  Royal  Court,  a  statement  transmitted 
to  the  Diplomatic  corps  and  state  officials. 

Next  morning  tlie  walls  of  the  city  were  cov- 
ered with  the  Syndic's  notification  to  the  in- 

21 


322        THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

habitants :  "Fellow-citizens; "  it  read,  "  A  great 
misfortune  has  overtaken  the  Royal  Family  and 
the  nation.  Yesterday  at  6  :  50  p.m.  His  Royal 
Highness,  Prince  Amadeus,  Duke  of  Aosta, 
departed  this  life.  The  mourning  of  the  Royal 
Family  is  mourning  for  Turin — is  the  mourn- 
ing of  Italy.  Turin  mourns  a  well-loved 
Prince  :  one  of  whom  his  native  city  was 
proud.  The  nation  deplores  the  loss  of  the 
valorous  soldier  who  shed  his  blood  in  the 
battles  for  her  independence ; — he  who  on  the 
throne  of  a  powerful  Kingdom  exemplified 
the  traditional  loyalty  of  the  House  of  Savoy ; 
— who  was  the  faithful  companion  of  his 
August  Brother  wherever  a  peril  to  be  faced, 
or  a  sorrow  in  need  of  consolation,  called  the 
Sovereign  amongst  his  people.  In  great  af- 
flictions there  is  consolation  in  community  of 
affections.  In  these  days  of  national  grief 
the  inhabitants  of  Turin  feel  more  deeply  the 
indissoluble  bonds  of  love  and  devotion  which 
for  centuries  have  united  them  to  the  glorious 
dynasty — and  trust  that  the  grief  of  the  King, 
of  the  Royal  Family,  of  the  August  Consort, 
and  sons  of  the  Prince,  may  be  relieved  by 
the  certitude  that  in  grateful  Italian  hearts 
the  memory  of  Amadeus  of  Savoy  will  live 
forever."       The     sentiments     expressed    in 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIROSE.        323 

the  above-quoted  document  were  sincerely 
echoed  by  the  population.  On  all  sides  were 
to  be  seen  tokens  of  mourning ;  even  the  houses 
of  the  very  poor  being  decked  with  lowly 
symbols  of  woe,  touching  in  their  naive  sim- 
plicity, but  illustrating  most  eloquently  the 
universal  sorrow. 

To  those  in  the  Palace  the  etiquette  which, 
even  in  the  midst  of  death  and  sorrow,  hedges 
exalted  rank,  brought  fresh  cause  for  suffer- 
ing. Privacy,  the  refuge  and  inestimable 
boon  of  individual  grief,  is  denied  to  the 
wearer  of  a  crown,  and  King  Humbert,  de- 
spite his  breaking  heart,  found  himself 
obliged  to  receive  delegations  or  listen  to 
long  addresses  of  official  condolence  which 
left  little  time  for  the  indulgence  of  personal 
sorrow. 

On  the  evening  of  the  nineteenth,  how- 
ever, the  King,  summoning  the  Princes 
Emmanuel  and  Victor,  the  late  Duke's  eldest 
sons,  entered  the  chamber  of  death.  Declin- 
ing all  assistance,  and  banishing  all  others 
from  the  room,  the  King  and  his  two  young 
nephews  gently  lifted  the  body  from  the  bed, 
and  with  their  own  hands  laid  it  in  the  coffin, 
covering  the  remains  with  violets  and  pure 
white  flowers.     Here,  beyond   the  reach  of 


324       THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  TIIEONE. 

any  official  eye,  they  bade  an  eternal  fare- 
well to  the  brother  and  father  they  had  loved 
so  well. 

At  noon  on  the  twentieth,  the  Queen,  ac- 
companied by  the  Prince  of  Naples,  reached 
Turin  from  Rome.  The  King  met  Her 
Majesty  at  the  railway  station,  surrounded 
by  the  Duchess  of  Genoa,  Prince  Louis 
Napoleon,  his  nephew,  Signor  Crispi,  the 
ladies  and  gentlemen  in  waiting,  and  all  the 
State,  Court  and  Municipal  officials.  An  im- 
mense but  silent  crowd  lined  the  principal 
approaches  to  the  station.  As  the  train  drew 
up  at  the  platform  Humbert  advanced  to  the 
door  of  the  Queen's  compartment,  and,  aiding 
Her  Majesty  to  descend,  tenderly  embraced 
her.  Arm  in  arm  the  royal  couple,  dressed 
in  deepest  mourning,  passed  through  the 
bareheaded  crowd,  gravely  acknowledging 
the  respectful  salutations  offered  on  all  sides, 
and  entering  the  carriage  in  waiting  were 
driven  to  the  Palace  where  the  widowed 
Duchess  received  them. 

On  the  morning  of  January  22,  Turin  was 
early  astir.  From  all  quarters  of  the  city 
groups  of  sight-seers  streamed  into  the  prin- 
cipal thoroughfares,  there  to  take  up  advan- 
tageous positions  to  view  the  funeral  proces- 


THE  SACniFICE  OF  A  TUIiONE.        325 

sion.  Commerce  was  at  a  standstill — not  only 
the  shops  in  the  streets  through  which  the  pro- 
cession must  pass  being  closed,  but  even 
those  in  the  distant  and  poorer  districts. 
Throughout  the  long,  straiglit  streets  the 
windows  and  balconies  were  draped  in  black  : 
below  soldiers  lined  the  sidewalks,  hedging 
in  the  silent  crowds  patiently  waiting  to 
offer  a  last  salute  to  their  Prince. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  booming  of  cannon  an- 
nounced the  formation  of  the  procession,  and 
half  an  hour  later  the  march  began,  opened 
by  bodies  of  troops  and  civic  delegations. 
An  officer  on  horseback  carrying  the  Prince's 
sword  preceded  the  hearse.  The  coffin  rested 
on  a  gun-carriage  drawn  by  eight  horses,  and 
was  followed  by  the  Prince's  favorite  charger, 
led  by  two  grooms,  one  on  either  side.  Im- 
mediately behind  walked  the  King,  clad  in 
the  full  dress  uniform  of  a  General,  with  the 
Duke  delle  Puglie  on  his  right  and  the  Count 
of  Turin  on  his  left.  A  few  paces  separated 
the  chief  mourners  from  the  Prince  of 
Naples,  Duke  of  Genoa,  Prince  of  Hohenzol- 
lern  and  Prince  of  Sweden,  who  were  in  turn 
closely  followed  by  the  high  dignitaries  of 
the  State  and  Court,  representatives  of  Army 
and  Navy,  and   distinguished   delegates   of 


326  ■      THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

various  ranks  and  professions.  Behind  these 
again  came  six  funeral  cars,  each  drawn 
by  six  horses  caparisoned  in  black  and 
silver,  and  laden  with  the  innumerable  floral 
wreaths  sent  from  all  parts  of  Italy  and 
Europe. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  procession  at  the 
Church  of  the  Gran  Madre  di  Dio,  the  coffin 
was  carried  to  the  high  altar  where  the  re- 
ligious ceremonies  were  performed  and  the 
absolution  given.  These  rites  being  con- 
cluded, the  King,  Prince  of  Naples,  Duke  of 
Genoa,  and  the  late  Prince's  two  elder  sons, 
proceeded  to  the  Superga  there  to  await  the 
arrival  of  the  remains  and  assist  at  the  final 
ceremonies  and  sealing  of  the  vault. 

The  great  dome  of  the  basilica  had  not 
been  decorated — only  the  high  altar  was 
draped  and  lighted  by  a  profusion  of  tall  wax- 
candles.  Before  it  a  low  catafalque  was  pre- 
pared on  which  the  coffin  was  to  rest  during 
the  performance  of  the  last  rites.  The  crypt, 
where  the  members  of  the  Royal  Family  are 
buried,  was  carpeted  in  black,  and  bare,  save 
for  a  small  table  provided  with  a  silver  ink- 
stand, two  goose-quills,  and  a  couple  of  sticks 
of  black  sealing-wax.  From  the  ceiling  hung 
silver  lamps    which   shed    a   subdued  light 


THE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE.       327 

over  the  simple  but  impressive  funeral  mon- 
uments. 

The  Queen  and  widowed  Duchess  entered 
the  basilica  a  few  moments  before  the  arrival 
of  the  coffin  which  was  conveyed  up  the  steep 
incline  on  a  gun-carriage  drawn  by  six  horses 
mounted  by  artillerymen.  Shrouded  in  the 
folds  of  the  Italian  flag  the  coffin  rested  be- 
fore the  high  altar.  On  it  lay  the  decora- 
tions, helmet  and  sword  of  the  deceased. 
Of  the  hundreds  of  wreaths  only  three  now 
accompanied  the  remains :  those  sent  by  the 
King  and  Queen,  the  widow  and  sons,  and 
Prince  Louis,  who  was  mourning  his  father 
far  away  on  the  South  American  coast. 

On  the  conclusion  of  the  final  short  relig- 
ious service  the  coffin  was  carried  to  the  crypt 
and  placed  in  the  vault  adjoining  that  in 
which  rested  Maria  Victoria.  Here  Count 
Balbo  read  the  burial  certificate,  copies  of 
which,  after  being  signed  in  triplicate  by 
those  present,  were  deposited  in  the  respec- 
tive archives  of  the  basilica  and  of  the  Court, 
both  in  Turin  and  Rome. 

Two  masons  now  stepped  forward  and 
walled  up  and  sealed  tlie  vault,  placing  in 
position  the  tablet  bearing  the  inscription  of 
which  the  followino-  is  the  translation  : 


328       TEE  SACRIFICE  OF  A  THRONE. 

H.  R.  H.  Amadeus  of  Savoy,  Duke  of 

AOSTA. 

Born  in  Turin,  May  30,  1845.     Died 
THERE  January  18,  1890. 


THE  END. 


By  the  Same  Author. 


Gypsying  Beyond  the  Sea. 

FROM  ENGLISH  FIELDS  TO  SALERNO'S  SHORES. 

BY 

WILLIAM    BEMENT    LENT. 

With  18  fult-page  lllustratloas. 
Two  Volumes.     l6mo.     Ornamental  Cloth.    A  Set,  $3.00. 


"Two  pleasant  voluiupeof  travels  under  the  allarinf»  title 'dypsying 
Beyond  the  Sea.'  Mr.  Lent  made  a  leisurely  tour  of  the  Britiwh  Isles 
and  the  Continent,  and  the  notes  of  his  jounieyings,  if  not  eepecially 
new,  are  interesting.  Finland,  however,  is  a  little  visited  corner  of 
Europe,  and  there  Mr.  Lent's  letters  treat  of  new  matter,  and  are 
instructive  as  well  as  interesting.  The  books  are  illustrated  by 
photographs."— ^V.  Y.  Sun. 

"Mr.  William  Bement  Lent,  another  American  tourist,  has  given 
ns  in  two  volumes  a  light  running  account  of  his  sights  and  impres- 
sions in  England,  Wales,  Scotland,  Belgium,  (Germany,  Switzerland, 
Holland,  Italy,  Russia,  Finland,  Denmark  and  Sweden.  His  graceful 
and  picturesque  style  seems  to  indicate  a  genuine  enjoyment  of  his 
travels,  with  especial  appetite  for  scenery  and  for  architectural  and 
other  historical  attractions.  There  are  a  considerable  number  of  full- 
page  illustrations."— .ffei'i««'  of  Reviews. 

"If  people  will  continue  to  write  books  on  the  familiar  '  European 
round'  they  must  at  least  make  them  exceptionally  attractive  with 
print,  cover  and  illustration.  Mr.  William  IJement  Lent  has  done  this 
with  his  two  pretty,  almost  elegant,  volumes  entitled  'Gypsying  Beyond 
the  Sea  from  English  Fields  to  Salerno's  Shores.'  Mr.  Lent  has  written 
for  all  readero  and  all  seasons,  and  takes  us  over  the  conventional 
tourist's  path  through  England,  Wales,  and  Scotland:  across  Belgium, 
which  he  calls  '  the  cock  pit  of  Europe,'  into  Holland,  Germany  and 
Switzerland;  and  thence,  in  the  second  volume,  into  Russia,  Finland, 
Denmark,  Sweden,  and  Italy.  To  England,  Russia,  Switzerland,  and 
Italy  he  devotes  his  chief  attention.  The  charm  of  the  books  is  in  their 
delicate  binding  of  green  and  gold  and  in  the  exceedingly  good  process 
plates  which  accompany  the  text,  founded  on  photographs  but 
blending  the  best  effects  of  etching  and  mezzotint.  One  who  has 
not  read  much  Euroi)ean  travel  would  find  a  good  deal  in  Mr.  Lenfa 
bookfl  to  ^le&any— $3.00.— Literary  World. 


BONNELL,  SILVER  &  CO. 

Late  with  A.  D.  F.  Randolph  &  Co., 
24  West  22d  Street,  New  York. 


Across  the  Country  of  the 
Little   King. 

A    TRIP    THROUGH    SPAIN. 

BT 

WILLIAM    BEMENT    LENT. 

Author   of    "  Gypsying    Beyond    the  Sea." 

Illustrated  Small  l2mo.  $1.2S. 


The  eyes  and  thoughts  of  many  a  European  tonrist  have  often 
turned  longingly  toward  Spain,  but  the  inconvenience,  discomfort  and 
fatigue  attending,  uutil  within  a  few  years,  travel  in  that  comparatively 
unknown  country,  have  dampened  enthusiasm  and  discouraged  effort. 
But  the  opening  of  railways  and  the  Mediterranean  service  of  the 
North  German  Lloyd  Co.  to  Gibraltar,  have  made  it  possible  to  pass 
through  central  Spain,  see  much  of  the  country,  the  most  important  of 
its  historical  cities  and  its  principal  gems  of  architectural  and  pictorial 
art,  in  perfect  comfort.  The  literature  upon  the  subject  is  voluminouB 
and  bulky.  Even  the  Guide  Books  of  O'Shea  and  Murray,  while  in- 
valuable, are  confusing  and  bewildering  to  the  passing  tourists.  For 
this  reason,  it  has  been  thought  a  kindly  service,  to  prepare  this  little 
record  of  a  trip  from  Gibraltar  to  San  Sebastian,  not  as  a  guide,  but  as 
a  "compagnon  de  voyage."  One  may  follow  through  its  leading  and 
be  sure  of  a  delightful  and  profitable  trip.  It  Is  the  impression  given 
in  May  and  June,  when  all  Nature  was  at  her  best,  and  consequently 
it  differs  much  from  Hare  and  other  writers  who  tell  of  the  desolation 
of  winter.  Gibraltar,  Tangier,  Ronda,  Grenada,  Seville,  Cordova, 
Aranjuez,  Toledo,  Madrid,  Escorial,  Salamanca,  Burgos  and  San  Sebas- 
tian are  all  portrayed  with  vivid  and  enthusiastic  touch  Characteristic 
fetes,  architectural  wouders  and  the  marvellous  canvasses  of  Murillo, 
Velosques  and  other  Masters,  are  in  a  pleasant  gossipy  way,  noted.  The 
book  has  not  been  designed  as  a  contribution  to  the  historical,  geographi- 
cal or  political  lore  of  this  chivalrous  and  romantic  countrv,  but  rather 
to  unfold,  much  as  one  would  do  in  a  familiar  correspondence,  some- 
thing of  the  pleasure  given,  the  benefit  conferred,  by  the  salient  features 
of  a  most  picturesque  district  and  interesting  people.  The  next  best 
thing  to  seeing  a  country  oneself,  is  to  view  it  through  the  eyes  of  one 
who  has  passed  observingly  through  it,  with  the  determination,  as 
expressed  on  the  old  sun-dial,  to  ^^  mark  onbj  the  Iwur^  which  shme." 
In  these  pleasing  pages,  many  may  find  'Entertainment  and  information 
and  perchance  as  a  sequence,  will  be  inspired  to  go  and  do  likewise. 


BONNELL,  SILVER  &  CO., 

Late  with  A.  D.  F.  Randolph  &  Co., 

24  West  22d  Street    New  York. 


DP228  ^b 

Whitehouse,  Henry  Remsen, 

1857- 
The  sacrifice  of  a  throne. 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A  A         001  392  806 


210  00387  0365 


